Accreditation of delegates for the African Democratic Congress national convention is currently in progress at the Rainbow Event Centre in Garki, Abuja, with no report of sabotage as the party vowed to proceed despite last-minute attempts to revoke access to the venue . No fewer than 3,000 delegates dressed in colourful attire and drawn from the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory have arrived at the venue, showcasing unity and diversity within party ranks, as security personnel conducted thorough checks before granting access . Kola Ologbondiyan, Chairman of the Media and Publicity Sub-Committee for the ADC Convention, disclosed that the leadership received reports late Monday night indicating that the owner of the Rainbow Event Centre had been instructed to withdraw permission for the event, expressing concern about jeopardising his business . “The leadership made it clear that having met all contractual engagements, there was no basis for us to vacate the venue at such a late hour. We told them that if anyone insists on enforcing such an order, they should come and do so themselves,” Ologbondiyan said .
The party leadership stated that there was no alternative venue available due to time constraints and resolved that if the order is enforced and the ADC is denied the right to use Rainbow Event Centre, they will conduct the convention on the streets . “If this order… is enforced, and ADC is denied the right to use the Rainbow Events Centre, then we can as well go on the streets and condone the convention there, because the convention belongs to the party,” Ologbondiyan declared . The party had earlier faced repeated difficulties in securing venues, with National Organising Secretary Chinedu Idigo expressing dissatisfaction over the challenges, alleging that several private business owners declined to host the ADC due to what he described as external pressures and threats . “We wrote to use the Eagle Square but received no response, and our request for the Velodrome was also denied without explanation. We approached several venues, including hotels and event centres, but once they realised it was ADC, they declined, citing fear of possible repercussions,” Idigo stated .
The ADC had earlier accused the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, of pressuring the venue owner to cancel the contract, with party spokesman Bolaji Abdullahi writing on X: “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” . However, Wike debunked the claim, saying the ADC never applied to use Eagle Square and that the Stadium is not under the control of the Territory Administration but the National Sports Commission . Despite the alleged pressure, Ologbondiyan insisted that the party had adhered strictly to the provisions of the Electoral Act, stating: “Our responsibility under the law is to notify INEC at least 21 days before the convention. We have done that, and INEC has not rejected our notice” .
