Atiku defiant as ADC alleges attempt to block national convention venue

Atiku Abubakar, former vice president has vowed that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) will proceed with its national convention despite alleged attempts to frustrate the event by targeting the venue hosting it.

In a statement shared via his official X account on Tuesday, Atiku accused the federal government of allegedly moving to revoke the operating licence of the Rainbow Event Centre over its decision to host the opposition party’s convention scheduled for the same day.

The ADC had earlier confirmed the venue after its request to use major public facilities, including Eagle Square and the MKO Abiola National Stadium, was reportedly declined.

The party also claimed that several private venues turned down its request amid fears of government pressure.

Bolaji Abdullahi, the party’s national publicity secretary had also raised concerns, alleging that the centre was being threatened with regulatory action shortly after agreeing to host the convention.

Reacting to the situation, Atiku described the alleged move as a “shameful and cowardly abuse of public office,” insisting that the party had met all financial and contractual obligations for the use of the facility.

He said: “The reports from the spokesperson of our great party, which exposes the plans of the government and its agents to revoke the licence of Rainbow Event Centre for the singular offence of hosting the African Democratic Congress convention slated for today, Tuesday, April 14, 2026, is a shameful and cowardly abuse of public office.”

Atiku further argued that the opposition had committed no offence other than organising politically and preparing for the 2027 elections, which he said appeared to have unsettled the ruling establishment.

“The ADC has paid every fee. The ADC has signed every contract. The ADC has broken no law,” he added, stressing that the party would not be intimidated out of its constitutional rights.

He also framed the alleged development as part of a wider pattern of political pressure against opposition groups, warning that such actions could undermine democratic freedoms.

“This is how democracies are strangled, not in a single dramatic blow, but in a thousand petty, vindictive acts against opposition parties, against free assembly, and against the sacred right of citizens to choose their own leaders,” he said.

Atiku urged Nigerians and the international community to take note of the situation, insisting that intimidation would not derail the party’s plans.

“We will not be intimidated. We will not be silenced. We will not bow to this creeping tyranny,” he declared, reaffirming that the convention would go ahead as scheduled and that the party remained committed to its political mission ahead of 2027.