ADC convention to hold today despite venue scare — Melaye

A former lawmaker representing Kogi West Senatorial District, Senator Dino Melaye, has said the national convention of the African Democratic Congress will proceed on Tuesday despite earlier concerns about the use of the Rainbow Event Centre in Abuja.

Melaye, a chieftain of the ADC, stated this while speaking to journalists at the convention venue.

The development follows allegations by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, on Monday night that there was a last-minute attempt by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and the Federal Capital Development Authority to pressure the venue’s owner to cancel the event.

Abdullahi described the development as a case of political intimidation and “creeping tyranny.”

“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 said in a statement via X.

He added that a formal contract had already been signed and all payments made, describing the situation as an attempt to disrupt the party’s constitutional activity.

“But we have already signed the contract with him. We will hold our convention tomorrow as planned at the Rainbow Event Centre.

“We will not bow to this creeping tyranny. And definitely not to this petty tyrant,” the spokesperson declared.

Speaking at the venue, Melaye insisted that the party would go ahead with the event as planned.

“We refused to leave Rainbow Event Centre because we have a duly signed contract.

“We paid in full for this venue for the ADC convention, and we will hold it here.

“With a binding contract with management, no one could have stopped us from proceeding with the convention,” he said.

Neither Wike nor the FCDA had responded to the latest allegations as of press time.

The development comes after Kola Ologbondiyan, media aide to the embattled National Chairman of the ADC, Senator David Mark, said on Monday that the party was yet to secure a venue less than 24 hours to the event, alleging sabotage.

“Twenty-four hours to the ADC National Convention, the Nigerians-aligned political party is yet to be issued a venue,” he said.

Ologbondiyan added that the party had formally approached the office of the FCT minister, seeking approval to use Eagle Square, but received no response despite acknowledgment of its request.

He further stated that efforts to secure alternative facilities at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, including the Velodrome, were unsuccessful.

However, Wike denied the claims, saying no formal application had been received.

He stressed that Eagle Square remains open to all groups, provided they follow due process and pay the required fees.

“We do not deny access; these events actually generate revenue for the government.

“Who denied them? I am not aware of any such development, and I don’t even know which party you are referring to,” he said.