Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused authorities of attempting to obstruct the African Democratic Congress (ADC) from holding its scheduled convention in Abuja. In a statement posted on his official social media account on April 14, 2026, Abubakar alleged that officials were pressuring the Rainbow Event Centre—the venue booked for the event—to revoke its license.
According to the statement, the ADC had fulfilled all legal and contractual obligations, including payment of fees and signing of agreements. Abubakar insisted there was no lawful basis to deny the party access to the facility. “The ADC has paid every fee. The ADC has signed every contract. The ADC has broken no law,” he said.
He characterized the reported move as an attempt to suppress opposition activities, warning that such actions could erode democratic norms. “This is how democracies are strangled in a thousand petty, vindictive acts against opposition parties,” the statement read.
Abubakar reaffirmed the party’s determination to proceed with the convention as planned, despite the alleged pressure. “The convention will hold. The ADC will rise. And Nigeria will rise with it,” he added.
The allegations have raised concerns among political observers about the state of democratic freedoms in Nigeria, particularly regarding the treatment of opposition parties. The ADC has yet to issue an independent statement on the matter, and no official response has been provided by the authorities accused of interference.
