The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCDA) and the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, of applying undue pressure on a private event centre to cancel the party’s national convention scheduled for today.
In a statement issued to journalists by the National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, he alleged that the owner of the Rainbow Event Centre was threatened with license revocation if he allowed the party to use the facility.
“After paying all the fees required, setting up for our convention tomorrow, 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.
Despite the alleged threat, Abdullahi insisted the convention would proceed as planned, noting that a binding contract had already been signed with the venue.
“But we have already signed the contract with him. We will hold our convention tomorrow(which is today)as planned at the Rainbow event centre,” he stated.
The party’s spokesman did not mince words in his criticism of the Minister, framing the dispute as a stand against authoritarianism.
“We will not bow to this creeping tyranny. And definitely not to this petty tyrant,” Abdullahi declared, adding the party’s rallying cry: “ADC is rising, Nigeria is rising.”
This is not the first venue-related obstacle the party has faced, the same minister had previously refused the ADC permission to use the Eagles Square for its convention, forcing the party to seek an alternative at the Rainbow Event Centre.
As of press time, the office of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has not issued an official response to the allegations.
The ADC is scheduled to hold its national convention today, and all eyes will be on the Rainbow Event Centre to see if the party can proceed without further disruption.