Atiku Abubakar, former vice chairman has vowed that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) will proceed with its nationwide conference regardless of alleged makes an attempt to frustrate the occasion by concentrating on the venue internet hosting it.
In a press release shared by way of his official X account on Tuesday, Atiku accused the federal authorities of allegedly shifting to revoke the working licence of the Rainbow Occasion Centre over its resolution to host the opposition celebration’s conference scheduled for a similar day.
The ADC had earlier confirmed the venue after its request to make use of main public services, together with Eagle Sq. and the MKO Abiola Nationwide Stadium, was reportedly declined.
The celebration additionally claimed that a number of non-public venues turned down its request amid fears of presidency strain.
Bolaji Abdullahi, the celebration’s nationwide publicity secretary had additionally raised considerations, alleging that the centre was being threatened with regulatory motion shortly after agreeing to host the conference.
Reacting to the state of affairs, Atiku described the alleged transfer as a “shameful and cowardly abuse of public workplace,” insisting that the celebration had met all {financial} and contractual obligations for the usage of the ability.
He mentioned: “The studies from the spokesperson of our nice celebration, which exposes the plans of the federal government and its brokers to revoke the licence of Rainbow Occasion Centre for the singular offence of internet hosting the African Democratic Congress conference slated for right this moment, Tuesday, April 14, 2026, is a shameful and cowardly abuse of public workplace.”
Atiku additional argued that the opposition had dedicated no offence aside from organising politically and getting ready for the 2027 elections, which he mentioned appeared to have unsettled the ruling institution.
“The ADC has paid each price. The ADC has signed each contract. The ADC has damaged no legislation,” he added, stressing that the celebration wouldn’t be intimidated out of its constitutional rights.
He additionally framed the alleged growth as a part of a wider sample of political strain towards opposition {groups}, warning that such actions may undermine democratic freedoms.
“That is how democracies are strangled, not in a single dramatic blow, however in a thousand petty, vindictive acts towards opposition events, towards free meeting, and towards the sacred proper of residents to decide on their very own leaders,” he mentioned.
Atiku urged Nigerians and the worldwide neighborhood to be aware of the state of affairs, insisting that intimidation wouldn’t derail the celebration’s plans.
“We is not going to be intimidated. We is not going to be silenced. We is not going to bow to this creeping tyranny,” he declared, reaffirming that the conference would go forward as scheduled and that the celebration remained dedicated to its political mission forward of 2027.