The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused authorities in the Federal Capital Territory of denying it access to major public venues in Abuja ahead of its national convention scheduled for April 14, 2026.
In a statement shared on X on Monday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, said the party encountered difficulties securing a venue less than 24 hours before the planned event, despite submitting formal requests to relevant government offices.
According to Kola Ologbondiyan, the ADC wrote to the office of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, , requesting permission to use Eagle Square.
He said the acknowledgement of the letter was received, but no official approval or rejection was communicated to the party.
He added that the party also approached the Federal Ministry of Sports Development for access to the velodrome at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, but the request was reportedly declined without explanation.
The ADC further alleged that several privately owned event centres within Abuja refused to accept its booking requests, citing fears of possible backlash from government authorities.
Despite these setbacks, Kola Ologbondiyan maintained that the party remained committed to holding its convention within the Federal Capital Territory as scheduled.
A letter dated April 7 and signed by Chinedu Idigo, a senior party official, showed that the ADC had formally applied for the use of Eagle Square for what it described as a non-elective national convention.
In the letter, Chinedu Idigo stated that the event would attract delegates, stakeholders, and observers from all 36 states of the federation and the FCT, adding that Eagle Square was selected for its capacity, accessibility, and security.
“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 read.
He also noted that the party was willing to meet all financial obligations required for the facility’s use.
However, the request was ultimately declined without an official reason being provided.
Following the development, the ADC announced that it would now hold its convention at the Rainbow Event Centre, describing it as a central and accessible alternative for delegates expected from across the country.
