Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticised the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, alleging attempts to disrupt the planned national convention of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Abuja.
In a statement on Tuesday, Atiku described reports of pressure on the management of Rainbow Event Centre to withdraw its approval for the party’s convention as a “shameful and cowardly abuse of public office.”
According to him, there were moves to revoke the venue’s operating licence simply for agreeing to host the opposition gathering scheduled for April 14, 2026.
Atiku argued that such actions, if true, represent a broader threat to democratic principles, particularly the rights to free assembly and political participation.
He maintained that the ADC had fulfilled all legal and financial requirements to secure the venue, insisting the party had committed no wrongdoing.
“The ADC has paid every fee and signed every contract. Our only offence is organising and preparing for the future,” he said.
The former vice president warned that interference with opposition activities could weaken Nigeria’s democratic system, describing it as a gradual erosion of freedoms.
Despite the controversy, he affirmed that the party would proceed with its convention and would not be intimidated.
Earlier, the party’s spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi, alleged that the venue owner came under pressure linked to officials of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, including the office of Nyesom Wike.
The ADC insisted that the event would go ahead as planned, framing the situation as a test of Nigeria’s commitment to democratic values and political pluralism.