Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife rejected the proposed venue for a scheduled lecture by Peter Obi, the Labour Party's 2023 presidential candidate, the university management said.
The university did not immediately specify which venue the organisers had suggested or what alternatives it offered instead. Management said it made the decision based on its assessment of the proposed location, but stopped short of detailed explanation of the grounds for rejection.
Obi had been invited to deliver a lecture at the institution as part of his engagements with university communities across the country. The event was meant to afford students the opportunity to interact with the former Anambra State governor on national issues.
The university's decision to reject the venue raised questions about the criteria it used in assessing proposed locations for guest lectures and public events on campus. Universities typically have policies governing the use of facilities for political events, though such policies vary in their strictness and application.
It remains unclear whether the lecture will be rescheduled at an alternative venue within the university or moved entirely to a different location. The organisers of the event and Obi's camp had not issued statements clarifying next steps as of the time of this report.
OAU management is expected to release a detailed statement explaining its decision in the coming days, or the organisers may announce plans to hold the lecture elsewhere.
