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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Elections & Politics

ADC Convention to Proceed Despite Alleged Venue Scare and Political Intimidation

From The Punch · (1d ago) English Critical tone

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • The African Democratic Congress (ADC) will proceed with its national convention as planned, despite alleged attempts to disrupt it.
  • Party officials claim the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and the FCDA pressured the venue owner to cancel the event.
  • Despite venue concerns and alleged sabotage, the ADC insists on holding the convention due to a signed contract and full payment.

Despite facing alleged political intimidation and attempts to sabotage its constitutional activities, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) is resolute in proceeding with its national convention as scheduled. Chieftains of the party, including former lawmaker Senator Dino Melaye, have affirmed that the convention will take place at the Rainbow Event Centre in Abuja.

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.

— Bolaji AbdullahiAlleging political pressure to cancel the ADC's national convention.

Party officials, such as National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi, have accused the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) of pressuring the venue's owner to cancel the event at the last minute. Abdullahi described these actions as "political intimidation" and "creeping tyranny," noting that a formal contract had been signed and all payments made for the venue.

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.

— Bolaji AbdullahiAsserting the party's resolve to proceed with the convention despite alleged intimidation.

Melaye, speaking from the convention venue, emphasized the party's determination to hold the event as planned, citing the binding contract with the venue management. "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," he stated. The party remains committed to its constitutional activities, refusing to be deterred by what they perceive as attempts to disrupt their democratic process.

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.

— Dino MelayeConfirming the party's intention to hold the convention at the contracted venue.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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