Event centre under pressure to cancel our convention — ADC

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) says there are attempts to disrupt its planned convention in Abuja, alleging that the venue is under pressure from government authorities to cancel the event.

In a statement posted on Tuesday via his X account, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party’s national publicity secretary, said the management of Rainbow Event Centre informed the party of threats allegedly linked to regulatory authorities.

“After paying all the fees required… the owner of Rainbow Event Centre has just informed us that he has come under pressure from the FCDA and Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike that if he allows the ADC the use of his facilities, his licence will be revoked,” Abdullahi said.

He alleged that the pressure was coming from the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

“But we have already signed the contract with him. We will hold our convention tomorrow as planned at the Rainbow Event Centre,” he added.
“We will not bow to this creeping tyranny. And definitely not to this petty tyrant.”

Despite the reported threats, Abdullahi maintained that the party had fulfilled all contractual obligations and would proceed with the convention as scheduled.

Reacting to the development, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar described the alleged move as an abuse of public office and a threat to democratic norms.

“The reports… exposing plans to revoke the licence of Rainbow Event Centre… is a shameful and cowardly abuse of public office,” Abubakar said.