The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has secured a last-minute venue for its national convention in Abuja after facing uncertainty over where the event would hold less than 24 hours before the scheduled gathering.
The party announced late Monday that the convention would now take place at the Rainbow Event Centre, ending hours of confusion over venue arrangements.
The development followed a dispute between the party and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, over the use of Eagle Square.
While the ADC claimed it had applied to use the facility but received no response from the minister’s office, Wike denied the allegation, insisting that no formal application was submitted to the authorities responsible for managing the venue.
The convention, expected to attract thousands of delegates and party stakeholders from across the country, is seen as a crucial step for the opposition party as it prepares for the 2027 Nigerian general elections.
In a statement announcing the new venue, the ADC said the choice of Rainbow Event Centre would provide a central and accessible location for delegates arriving from different parts of the country.
According to the party, hosting the convention in Abuja underscores the national significance of the gathering and will ensure a well-coordinated event.
Earlier, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, media aide to Senator David Mark, who leads a faction of the party, claimed the ADC had formally written to the office of the FCT minister seeking permission to use Eagle Square but received no response despite acknowledgment of the request.
He also said attempts to secure the Velodrome at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium were unsuccessful after several visits to officials of the sports ministry.
According to him, the party equally approached privately owned event centres in Abuja, but many allegedly declined to host the convention due to fears of possible government pressure.
Despite the challenges, the ADC maintained that the convention would proceed as planned, noting that the party had already issued formal notice to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The event is taking place amid a prolonged leadership dispute within the party, with rival factions laying claim to its structure. While the Mark-led group is pushing ahead with the convention, another faction aligned with Dumebi Kachikwu has rejected the process.
Meanwhile, Wike dismissed the claims that the Federal Capital Territory Administration blocked the ADC from using Eagle Square, describing the allegation as unfounded.
He explained that the venue is managed by the Abuja Investments Company Limited and is open to all organisations that follow the required procedures and pay the necessary fees.
Wike also clarified that the Velodrome at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium is under the control of the National Sports Commission and not the FCT Administration.
According to the minister, political parties such as the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had previously used the venues after complying with the stipulated procedures.
In a related development, former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, expressed confidence in the ADC’s prospects, saying the party provides a formidable platform capable of challenging the ruling APC and repositioning Nigeria politically.
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