A faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused authorities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) of attempting to frustrate its planned National Convention scheduled to take place in Abuja.
The faction, led by David Mark, made the allegation in a statement posted on X by its spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi.
According to Abdullahi, the management of Rainbow Event Centre informed the party that it had come under external pressure to withdraw the venue for the convention.
He alleged that the owner of the event centre said he had been threatened with the revocation of his licence by officials of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) and the FCT administration led by Nyesom Wike if the facility was used for the ADC gathering.
Abdullahi said the party had already met all financial obligations and signed a formal agreement with the venue prior to the development.
Despite the alleged pressure, he insisted that the convention would proceed as scheduled at the Rainbow Event Centre.
“After paying all the fees required and 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 the minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, that if he allows the ADC the use of his facilities, his licence will be revoked,” Abdullahi wrote.
“But we have already signed the contract with him. We will hold our convention tomorrow as planned at the Rainbow Event Center. We will not bow to this creeping tyranny, and definitely not to this petty tyrant.”
However, the FCT Minister, Wike, had earlier dismissed claims that his administration denied the ADC access to Eagle Square for its planned national convention.
The situation adds to growing political tensions ahead of the party’s internal gathering, with the faction maintaining that it will not be deterred from holding the convention.
