A former senator who represented Kogi West, Dino Melaye, has affirmed that the national convention of the African Democratic Congress will hold as scheduled on Tuesday, dismissing uncertainties surrounding the event venue in Abuja.
Melaye made the declaration while addressing journalists at the Rainbow Event Centre, the planned location for the gathering, insisting that all arrangements remain intact.
The reassurance comes amid allegations raised on Monday night by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, who claimed there had been last-minute pressure on the venue’s management. He alleged that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, alongside the Federal Capital Development Authority, attempted to compel the owner to withdraw hosting rights.
Abdullahi described the situation as political intimidation and “creeping tyranny.”
“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,” Abdullahi said in a statement via X.
He added that a formal contract had already been signed and all payments completed, portraying the development as an effort to obstruct the party’s legitimate activities.
“But we have already signed the contract with him. We will hold our convention tomorrow as planned at the Rainbow Event Centre.
We will not bow to this creeping tyranny. And definitely not to this petty tyrant,” the spokesperson declared.
Backing the party’s stance, Melaye maintained that the agreement with the venue remains binding and cannot be overturned.
“We refused to leave Rainbow Event Centre because we have a duly signed contract.
“We paid in full for this venue for the ADC convention, and we will hold it here.
“With a binding contract with management, no one could have stopped us from proceeding with the convention,” he said.
As of the time of filing this report, neither Wike nor the Federal Capital Development Authority had issued a response to the fresh claims.
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Earlier concerns about the convention venue had also been raised by Kola Ologbondiyan, media aide to the embattled National Chairman of the party, David Mark.
He alleged that, less than 24 hours to the event, the party had yet to secure a confirmed location due to what he described as sabotage.
“Twenty-four hours to the ADC National Convention, the Nigerians-aligned political party is yet to be issued a venue,” he said.
Ologbondiyan explained that the party had applied to use Eagle Square through the office of the FCT minister but received no response, despite acknowledgment of the request.
He further noted that attempts to secure alternative spaces at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, including the Velodrome, were unsuccessful.
However, Wike refuted the allegations, stating that no official request had been submitted to his office. He reiterated that Eagle Square is accessible to all interested groups, provided they follow due process and meet the necessary financial requirements.
“We do not deny access; these events actually generate revenue for the government.
“Who denied them? I am not aware of any such development, and I don’t even know which party you are referring to,” he said.