Our Reporter, Abuja
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the Nyesom Wike-led authorities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) of attempting to frustrate its national convention by allegedly pressuring a private venue to withdraw its services at the last minute.
In separate statements issued on Tuesday, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the party’s spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi, alleged that the management of Rainbow Event Centre has come under threat of licence revocation if it proceeded to host the party’s convention scheduled for Tuesday, April 14, 2026.
Abdullahi, in an alert posted earlier, claimed that the venue owner informed the party of pressure from the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) and the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike.
“After paying all the fees required and setting up for our convention, the owner of the Rainbow Event Centre has just informed us that he has come under pressure… that if he allows the ADC the use of his facilities, his licence will be revoked,” Abdullahi said.
He maintained that the party had fulfilled all contractual obligations and would proceed with the convention as planned, insisting that the ADC would not be intimidated.
Echoing the claim, Atiku described the alleged move as “a shameful and cowardly abuse of public office,” accusing the government and its agents of attempting to undermine democratic principles.
“Coercing a private business owner to deny a lawfully registered opposition party the use of a venue is not governance. It is not politics,” he said.
The former presidential candidate argued that such actions reflect a broader pattern of suppressing opposition voices and warned that democracy could be eroded through “petty, vindictive acts” against political rivals and citizens’ rights to free assembly.
Atiku further called on the international community and democratic partners to take note of the development, vowing that the party would not be silenced.
Despite the controversy, both leaders reiterated that the ADC convention would go ahead as scheduled on Tuesday (today), expressing confidence in the party’s growth and its prospects ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The leading opposition party, ADC had alleged that it was denied the use of Eagle Square for its convention by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, despite receiving its application dated April 7, 2026. However, Wike had publicly denied receiving any such application in spite of documentary evidence showing his office had received the said letter on the 7th of April.
The same Eagle Square was recently used by the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, for their national convention, with even the Federal Government granting civil servants working at the nearby Federal Secretariat, a work-free day.
