By Abdulrahman Aliagan,
- Alleges Democratic Suppression as Venue Denial Forces Convention Shift
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has announced a new venue for its national convention scheduled to hold in Abuja on Tuesday, April 14, following what it described as deliberate obstacles in accessing major public facilities in the nation’s capital.
The party had earlier disclosed that it was denied access to both the Eagle Square and the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, despite formal requests.
According to the ADC, it wrote to the office of Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), seeking approval to use Eagle Square. While the letter was acknowledged, the party said no official response was received, effectively shutting it out of the venue.
In a fresh statement, however, the opposition party confirmed that its convention will now take place at the Rainbow Event Centre in Abuja, a move it says ensures continuity of its democratic processes despite the challenges encountered.
The ADC noted that the new venue offers a central and accessible location for delegates and stakeholders expected from across the country, reaffirming its commitment to internal democracy and national engagement.
Beyond logistics, the development has raised concerns about the state of democratic space in Nigeria. Observers within the opposition argue that the denial of access to public venues for a major political gathering reflects a troubling pattern in which state-controlled infrastructure is allegedly used to frustrate opposition activities.
Such actions, they contend, cast doubt on the inclusiveness and fairness of the democratic system being practiced under the ruling establishment and its key actors, including the FCT administration.
The party maintained that the choice of Abuja remains symbolic, underscoring the national significance of the convention, while also highlighting the resilience of opposition forces in navigating what it perceives as institutional bottlenecks in Nigeria’s evolving democracy.
