by Mercy Emmanuel
”A Shameful Pattern”: ADC Alleges State Pressure Amid Venue Crisis for National Convention
ABUJA — For the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the road to its national convention has been paved with more than just political debate—it has been marked by a series of mysterious, 11th-hour door-slammings that party leaders claim point to a coordinated effort to silence the opposition.
Reported this Tuesday, Kola Ologbondiyan, Chairman of the convention’s Media and Publicity Sub-committee, painted a vivid picture of a party under siege, not by voters, but by the invisible hand of state pressure.
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The most recent flashpoint occurred at the Rainbow Events Center in Abuja. After days of scouting and multiple previous cancellations, the party believed they had finally secured a home for their gathering. Then came the midnight phone call.
“Shortly before midnight last night, we got reports that the owner… came out to tell the leadership that he has been instructed to withdraw the permission,” Ologbondiyan recounted. “He doesn’t want to lose his only means of earning.”
It was a humanizing admission of the collateral damage caused by political tugs-of-war—a small business owner caught between a contract and the fear of state reprisal.
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Ologbondiyan did not mince words, describing the obstacles as a “shameful” display by those in power. He alleged that the sheer difficulty the ADC has faced in renting a simple hall suggests a government that is “panicky” despite its vast resources.
At one venue, officials were told during a final inspection that a sudden two-day “planning period” for another event necessitated their immediate eviction.
Ologbondiyan emphasized that the ADC has met every legal and financial obligation, from full payments to the 21-day INEC notice required by law.
In a show of defiance, the party signaled it would not be deterred. “If we are denied the right to use the center, we can as well go on the streets and conduct the convention there,” Ologbondiyan stated.
While the party battles for a physical space, it is also navigating the typical turbulence of internal politics. Ologbondiyan downplayed recent disputes stemming from state congresses, characterizing them as the “normal” friction of a growing democratic institution.
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For the ADC, the immediate goal isn’t just picking a presidential candidate—it is surviving long enough to build a credible platform for the opposition. “What is important now,” Ologbondiyan noted, “is that this will allow the opposition party to build themselves.”
Despite the logistical nightmare, the message from the ADC camp remains singular: the convention will happen today. Whether held under the roof of a premium event center or under the open Abuja sky, the party insists that its right to assemble is not up for negotiation.
