The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has stated that it was unable to secure access to prominent public venues in the Federal Capital Territory for its national convention, scheduled for April 14, 2026. The party claims this occurred less than 24 hours before the event was set to begin, despite submitting formal applications to relevant government agencies.
According to Kola Ologbondiyan, who posted on the social platform X on Monday, the party's attempts to book venues were unsuccessful. He indicated that the ADC had reached out to the office of Nyesom Wike to request the use of Eagle Square. While the request was received, the party stated it did not get an official response.
Furthermore, Ologbondiyan mentioned that the ADC also approached the federal ministry of sports development for permission to utilize the velodrome at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium. This request, he noted, was turned down without any given reason.
The party also alleged that several privately owned event centres in Abuja declined their booking requests. The ADC attributes these rejections to apprehension among private venue owners regarding potential repercussions from government authorities.
Despite these reported challenges, Ologbondiyan affirmed the party's commitment to proceeding with its convention as scheduled within Abuja.
A formal application letter, dated April 7 and bearing the signature of Chinedu Idigo, had been submitted by the ADC requesting Eagle Square for a non-elective convention.
Idigo's letter highlighted the convention's expected attendance, comprising delegates, stakeholders, and observers from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. The letter specified Eagle Square's selection based on its capacity, accessibility, and security features.
"I assure you that all necessary protocols will be strictly adhered to, including compliance with security guidelines, facility management rules, and restoration of the venue to its original condition after use," the letter stated.
Idigo also conveyed the party's readiness to cover all financial requirements associated with using the facility. However, the application was ultimately unsuccessful, with no official explanation provided for the denial.
In response to these circumstances, the ADC has announced that its convention will now take place at Rainbow Event Center. The party described this venue as a central and easily accessible alternative for attendees expected from across the nation.
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