A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Kola Ologbondiyan, has disclosed that the party was denied the use of the Eagles Square and the Velodrome at the MKO Abiola National Stadium in Abuja for its National Convention scheduled for Tuesday, April 14, 2026.
Ologbondiyan, who is also the chairman of the publicity and media committee of the ADC convention, disclosed this on his X handle on Monday, saying the party is yet to secure a venue 24 hours to its convention despite several attempts.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has refuted reports suggesting that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) was denied access to Eagle Square for its convention, describing the allegations as unfounded and a ploy to gain public sympathy.
Speaking with journalists on Monday after an inspection tour of project sites, Wike challenged the affected party to provide proof of any formal application.
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"Who denied them? I am not aware of any such development, and I don't even know which party you are referring to," Wike said.
But according to Ologbondiyan, a formal request was made to the office of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, for a permit to use the Eagles Square, but the party got no response after the letter was acknowledged.
He added that the party's team also engaged officials of the Ministry of Sports at the MKO Stadium over the Velodrome, but "at the end, ADC was refused the use of the Valedrom."
Ologbondiyan further alleged that privately owned event centres in Abuja were declining the party's requests "for fears of harrasments in various forms from the government."
Despite the setbacks, he assured that the convention would go on as planned in Abuja.
He said in full: "24 hours to the @ADCNig National Convention, the Nigerians-aligned political party is yet to be issued a venue.
"As the bromide has shown, a letter was presented to the Office of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Chief Nyesom Wike, for a permit to use the Eagles Square. The letter was acknowledged but no response._
"The ADC team paid several visits to the Ministry of Sports officials at the MKO Stadium. At the end, ADC was refused the use of the Valedrom._
"To make matters worse, privately owned Event Centres in Abuja are turning down the @ADCNig requests for fears of harrasments in various forms from the government._
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"All ADC members, teeming party supporters and indeed all Nigerians are assured that, as contained in the NOTICE issued to @inecnigeria , the ADC National Convention will hold in Abuja as scheduled on Tuesday, April 14th, 2026," he stated.
