Nyesom Wike Rejects Claims African Democratic Congress Was Barred From Eagle Square Convention Venue

FCT Minister Nyesom Wike refutes claims the ADC was denied access to Eagle Square, stating the party never submitted a formal application for the venue.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 14, 2026, 7:23 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Leadership News

Refutation of Venue Denial Allegations

Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has publicly addressed reports suggesting that the African Democratic Congress was blocked from using the Eagle Square for its political gathering. During a press briefing following an inspection of various project sites, Wike characterized these claims as entirely unfounded and suggested they were a calculated attempt to stir public sentiment. The minister maintained that his office has no record of a request from the party, challenging the leadership of the organization to produce any documentary evidence of a formal application or an official acknowledgement of such a request.

Standard Protocol for Public Space Usage

The minister took the opportunity to clarify the administrative requirements for securing high profile venues within the capital. According to Wike, the process for booking the iconic Eagle Square is transparent and remains open to any group that adheres to the established guidelines. He specified that interested parties must channel their applications through the National Sports Commission and fulfill the mandatory financial obligations. By outlining these steps, the minister emphasized that the administration operates on a set of standardized rules rather than discretionary or political gatekeeping.

Precedence of Major Party Compliance

To illustrate his point on procedural fairness, Wike cited the conduct of Nigeria's largest political organizations. He noted that both the Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress have successfully utilized the venue by following the same administrative channels and paying the required fees. By comparing the situation to these past events, the minister argued that the government has a proven track record of facilitating large scale political conventions provided that the organizers comply with the necessary logistical and financial prerequisites.