The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has alleged political interference in its planned national convention in Abuja, claiming that the management of the Rainbow Event Centre was pressured to withdraw its facility despite a valid contractual agreement.
In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said the venue owner informed organisers that he had come under pressure from officials of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, warning that his licence could be revoked if the event proceeded.
The ADC maintained that it had fulfilled all financial and contractual obligations required to secure the venue and insisted that the convention would go ahead as scheduled.
“We have paid all necessary fees and signed a binding agreement. The convention will hold as planned,” Abdullahi said, condemning what he described as attempts to undermine the party’s activities.
Reacting to the development, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar also criticised the alleged move, describing it as an abuse of public office and an affront to democratic principles.
According to him, pressuring a private business to deny a legally registered opposition party access to a venue constitutes a violation of the rights to association and assembly. He argued that such actions, if proven, reflect a broader pattern of political intolerance.
“This is not governance or legitimate politics, but an erosion of democratic norms through administrative coercion,” he said, warning that such practices could undermine Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
Both the ADC and Atiku reaffirmed their resolve to proceed with the convention, stating that the party would not be deterred by what they termed intimidation.
Efforts to obtain official responses from the FCDA and the office of the FCT Minister were not immediately successful as of the time of filing this report.
