Wike Accused of Blocking ADC Convention as Rainbow Event Centre Proprietor Withdraws Facility Over Licence Threat

The African Democratic Congress has been plunged into a fresh crisis on the eve of its national convention after the proprietor of Rainbow Event Centre in Abuja withdrew permission for the party to use his facility with the ADC alleging that FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and the Federal Capital Development Authority directly pressured the owner with the threat of licence revocation.

ADC National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi disclosed the development late Monday night via his X account, revealing that the dramatic withdrawal came after the party had already paid all required fees and was in the process of setting up for Tuesday’s convention.

“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 stated.

Despite the eleventh-hour setback, the party’s spokesperson declared that the convention would go ahead as planned, citing the binding nature of the signed contract with the venue. In defiant language, Abdullahi said: “We will not bow to this creeping tyranny. And definitely not to this petty tyrant. ADC is rising, Nigeria is rising.”

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The Rainbow Event Centre venue was itself a fallback position. The ADC’s Convention Media and Publicity Sub-committee Chairman Kola Ologbondiyan had earlier told journalists that the party secured the centre only after FCT authorities rejected its requests to use Eagle Square and the Moshood Abiola National Stadium Velodrome. However, Minister Wike disputed this account, insisting the ADC never formally applied to use Eagle Square and pointing out that the stadium falls under the National Sports Commission’s jurisdiction, not the FCT Administration.

The convention crisis is the latest chapter in a saga that has seen the ADC battered on multiple fronts simultaneously. Two weeks ago, INEC derecognised the David Mark-led faction of the party leadership, citing a 12 March Court of Appeal ruling as its basis for instead dealing with a rival faction led by former national vice chairman Nafiu Bala. Both factions have since protested the decision, each insisting it represents the authentic leadership of the party.

In a move that highlights just how tangled the ADC’s situation has become, the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear an appeal filed by Mark on the same Tuesday as the planned convention the appeal seeking a court order to stay the execution of the appellate court ruling that INEC cited to derecognise his leadership.

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The convergence of the convention, the Supreme Court hearing, and the venue dispute paints a vivid picture of an opposition party under siege and lends weight to the broader accusations made by Peter Obi and other opposition voices that the Tinubu administration is systematically working to destabilise parties outside the ruling APC ahead of the 2027 elections.

National Concord Blog will continue to track developments in the ADC crisis and Nigeria’s evolving opposition landscape.