The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has raised concerns over what it describes as repeated and “shameful” denial of venues for its upcoming national convention in Abuja. Chairman of the party’s media and publicity sub-committee for the convention, Kola Ologbondiyan, made the remarks during an appearance on Arise Television’s Morning Show on Tuesday.
Ologbondiyan detailed the challenges the party has faced in securing a suitable venue, recounting an incident where party officials were invited to inspect an event center in Mabushi, Abuja, only to be turned back upon arrival. He described the situation as unusual, suggesting that political pressure may be influencing the repeated denials, despite the fact that the country is not in an election period.
“Let me tell you what the ADC has passed through in the last few days in respect of venue is shameful. That’s just how to put it: very shameful,” Ologbondiyan said. He provided an example of the difficulties encountered, explaining that the party was in Garki when they received a call about an event center in Mabushi. “Before we moved from Garki to Mabushi, a journey of about 10 to 15 minutes, when we got to the Mabushi Event Center, they made another call to say that, ‘Oh, they were sorry. They had an event that will be holding, and they needed two days to plan for that event, and this one that we are asking for fell within those two days.’ That’s how we were denied.”
Ologbondiyan refrained from naming specific venues or hotels that the party had approached but were denied access. He expressed bewilderment at the situation, noting that it is not yet election season and that those in government, with 36 governors plus the FCT Minister and significant financial resources, should not be so “panicky.”
The ADC’s struggle to secure a venue for its national convention highlights broader concerns about political interference and the challenges faced by opposition parties in Nigeria. As the party continues its search for a suitable location, the incident underscores the need for transparency and fairness in the political process, ensuring that all parties have equal opportunities to conduct their activities without undue hindrance.
