Atiku insisted that the party would not be intimidated, expressing confidence that the convention would go ahead as planned.
By Deborah Hassan
365Daily – Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has described reports that the management of Rainbow Event Centre was being pressured by the Federal Government to withdraw from granting access to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for its national congress as shameful, cowardly and an abuse of office.
Atiku was reacting to an allegation by the ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, that the venue owner had been threatened with licence revocation if the event proceeds.
In a statement on Tuesday, Atiku said the ADC had fulfilled all contractual and legal requirements to use the facility, stressing that the party had committed no offence.
“The ADC has paid every fee. The ADC has signed every contract. The ADC has broken no law,” he said.
He added that coercing a private business to deny a registered political party access to a venue undermines democratic norms and the right to free assembly.
“Our only offence is that we are organising, we are growing, and we are preparing to retire this failed government at the ballot box in 2027,” Atiku stated.
The controversy comes as the ADC prepares for its national convention, part of its broader efforts to reposition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Meanwhile, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has denied any involvement in the alleged move, maintaining that no political party would be denied access to public facilities if due process is followed.
Despite the development, Atiku insisted that the party would not be intimidated, expressing confidence that the convention would go ahead as planned.