"Just 24 hours to the highly publicised presidential declaration of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso due to hold at the Eagle Square on Wednesday, the 29th August, 2018, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has turned down the request earlier approved for some flimsy reasons," the statement read.
Despite making payment and getting approval to use the venue one week before the scheduled declaration of Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso's presidential ambitiont, the Kwankwaso Campaign Organisation has said the Federal Government denied it access to inspect the premises on Tuesday.
A statement signed by the organisation, on Tuesday, noted that one Usman Mukhtar Raji, acting on behalf of the Facility Manager, stated that the Eagle Square would not be available for the event.
According to the organisation, the Integrated Facility Management Services Limited refused them access to the building and requested a police permit.
The statement read: "Just 24 hours to the highly publicised presidential declaration of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso due to hold at the Eagle Square on Wednesday, the 29th August, 2018, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has turned down the request earlier approved for some flimsy reasons.
"In a letter dated August 27th, 2018 and signed by Usman Mukhtar Raji for the Facility Manager and received on August 28th, 2018, barely 24 hours to the scheduled declaration, the Abuja International Conference and Eagle Square, managed by the Integrated Facility Management Services Ltd has reversed itself in respect of approval granted the organizers of the declaration of Senator Kwankwaso."
Condemning the refusal to allow them access the building, the organisation stated that "We at the Kwankwaso Campaign Organisation sees the development as a handiwork of the government in power who will not see anything good in growing our fledgling democracy as no level playing field has been created to allow for viable opposition in the country.
"Even at that, earlier Tuesday morning the Abuja International Conference and Eagle Square, managed by the Integrated Facility Management Services Ltd refused us access to inspect the premises demanding us to present a police permit, when actual approval for the use of the Eagle Square has been sought and paid for more than one week to the said declaration.
"The above development will in no way dampen our morale to go ahead with the declaration or chicken-out as it will only embolden us to legally pursue our fundamental right to freedom of movement and association."
Following the development, the organisation is said to have announced a new venue for the declaration.
The event will now hold at Chida Hotel in Utako, Abuja.