The ADC accused Wike of threatening the convention venue owner to cancel the contract

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the owners of the Rainbow Event Center in Abuja, which is slated to host the party’s national convention, of revoking permission previously granted to the party to use the facility.

The party claimed that the owner said he had been threatened by Federal Capital Territory (FACT) Minister Nyesome Wike that their license would be revoked if the event center hosted the ADC national convention.

ADC spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi, who disclosed this on his X account on Monday evening promised that the party would not be intimidated, and that Tuesday’s convention would go ahead as planned.

“After paying all the necessary fees, preparing for our convention tomorrow, the owner of the Rainbow Event Center has just informed us that he is under pressure from the FCDA and the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, that if he allows ADC to use his facilities, his license will be revoked.

“But we have already signed a contract with him. We will hold the convention tomorrow as planned at the Rainbow event center.

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“We will not bow to this creeping tyranny, and certainly not to this petty tyrant.

“ADC increases, Nigeria improves,” he wrote.

Chairman of the Media and Publicity Sub-committee of the Convention, Kola Ologbondiyan, said on Monday that his party had secured the Rainbow Events Center for the event after the FCT authorities rejected his request to use Eagle Square and the Velodrome of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium.

However, hours later, Wike refuted the claim and said that ADC never applied to use Eagle Square. The minister also stated that the stadium was not under the control of the Regional Government but rather the National Sports Commission.

The party has vowed to go ahead with its convention and congress despite the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) decision two weeks ago to stop recognizing its leadership.

Meanwhile, as the ADC struggles to hold its convention today, the Supreme Court, on the same day, will hear an appeal filed by Mark seeking an order to stay the implementation of the appellate court ruling.