The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has alleged that the Rainbow Event Centre abruptly cancelled its booking for the party’s National Convention scheduled for Tuesday, raising concerns over possible political interference.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, disclosed the development late Monday in a post on his X (formerly Twitter) handle.

According to Abdullahi, the decision followed what he described as undue pressure from the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), who allegedly threatened to revoke the venue’s operating licence if it hosted the convention.

“After fulfilling all financial obligations and concluding arrangements for our convention tomorrow, the owner of the Rainbow Event Centre informed us that he has come under pressure from the FCDA and the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, that his licence would be revoked if he allows the ADC to use his facility,” he said.

Despite the reported cancellation, Abdullahi insisted that the party would proceed with its convention at the venue, stressing that a valid and binding contract had already been executed with the management of the event centre.

‘After paying all the fees required, setting up for our convention tomorrow, the owner of Rainbow Event centre has just informed us that he has come under pressure from the FCDA and Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike that if he allows the ADC the use of his facilities, his licence will be revoked. But we have already signed the contract with him.

]We will hold our convention tomorrow as planned at the Rainbow event centre. We will not bow to this creeping tyranny. And definitely not to this petty tyrant. ADC is rising, Nigeria is rising,’ he wrote on his X account.