The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has raised alarms over alleged venue denials by federal government agencies and privately owned event centres, less than 24 hours before its national convention scheduled for April 14 in Abuja.
Kola Ologbodiyan, media adviser to the ADC interim National Chairman, David Mark, said the party’s request to use the velodrome at the Moshood Abiola Stadium was rejected by the Ministry of Sports. He added that the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, acknowledged the party’s letter requesting Eagles Square but gave no reply.
Ologbodiyan said privately owned event centres in Abuja were also refusing venues for fear of victimisation by the government.
The statement reads: “24 hours to the @ADCNig National Convention, the Nigeria-aligned political party is yet to be issued a venue.
“As the attached photograph shows, a letter was presented to the Office of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Chief Nyesom Wike, for a permit to use Eagles Square. The letter was acknowledged but received no response.
“The ADC team paid several visits to Ministry of Sports officials at the MKO Stadium. At the end, ADC was refused the use of the velodrome.
“To make matters worse, privately owned event centres in Abuja are turning down the @ADCNig requests for fear of harassment in various forms from the government.
“All ADC members, teeming party supporters and indeed all Nigerians are assured that, as contained in the notice issued to @inecnigeria, the ADC National Convention will be held in Abuja as scheduled on Tuesday, April 14, 2026.”