ADC Leadership Defies Venue Revocation Efforts and Proceeds with National Convention in Abuja

The ADC defies attempts to revoke its convention venue in Abuja. Kola Ologbondiyan confirms the party met all legal requirements and will proceed with the event.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 14, 2026, 5:47 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Vanguard News.

Contractual Standoff at the Rainbow Event Centre

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) faced a critical logistical challenge on the eve of its April 14 national convention. Senior party official Kola Ologbondiyan revealed during an interview that the owner of the Rainbow Event Centre attempted to withdraw permission for the gathering late Monday night. According to Ologbondiyan, the proprietor cited fears for his livelihood after allegedly receiving instructions from external authorities to vacate the party from the premises. In response, the ADC leadership refused to move, maintaining that their fully settled contractual agreement left no legal basis for an eleventh-hour eviction.

Adherence to the Electoral Act

Addressing claims of procedural non-compliance from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) administration, the ADC insisted it has operated strictly within the boundaries of Nigerian law. Ologbondiyan clarified that the party fulfilled its statutory obligation by notifying the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at least 21 days prior to the convention. He emphasized that INEC had not rejected the notice and noted that the commission’s physical attendance is discretionary rather than a mandatory requirement for the convention's validity.

Resilience Amidst Venue Disruptions

The party described the repeated difficulty in securing venues in the capital as a "shameful" trend of administrative interference. Ologbondiyan noted that several event centers have canceled agreements at short notice, which he interpreted as a sign of "panic among those in power" even before the peak of the election season. Despite these setbacks, accreditation for delegates commenced on Tuesday morning, with the party asserting that the convention belongs to its members and will proceed regardless of the location.