A Chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, (ADC), and Deputy Chairman of its Convention Media Support Subcommittee, Ladan Salihu has confirmed that the party’s national convention will go ahead as scheduled tomorrow, the 14th of April, announcing the Rainbow Event Centre in Area 8, Abuja, as the new venue amid earlier uncertainty over securing major locations.
He made this revelation in an exclusive interview with ARISE NEWS on Monday.
“I can announce to Nigerians that our convention is holding at the Rainbow Event Center, Area 8, here in the Federal Capital Territory, just a few hundred meters away from the FCT Administration headquarters. All arrangements are in top gear,” he stated.
Salihu expressed confidence in the preparations, stating that the party was leaving no stone unturned and remained optimistic about the outcome of the convention, which will be broadcast live on major networks.
“I just left the convention venue, and protocol, security, and all other subcommittees are working in synergy to see the convention goes on as planned. We are leaving no stone unturned. Nigerians can watch us live on major networks; we are very upbeat about the outcome. We’re not bothered about the challenges we face; we’re looking up to tomorrow,” he said.
He noted that efforts were made by the party’s national body and convention committee to secure venues, including Eagle Square and several major hotels within the FCT, but said those attempts were unsuccessful. Salihu also claimed that there was no visible activity at key facilities when checks were made, and suggested that the party had been deliberately denied access to preferred locations.
“Our national body and the convention committee made contact with Abuja Investment and all those associated with securing the venues. We hunted for Eagle Square and even major hotels in the FCT. Right now, when I was walking into your studio, I stopped by the Congress Hall to see whether there was any activity—no activity. No activity in Abuja Continental or any major hotel in Abuja. Our findings indicate that directly or indirectly, through third parties and apologies of the APC, the FCT Minister and the government made sure we couldn’t secure any of these venues. The national symbol of our political cohesion is the Eagle Square. It has been consistently used by political parties irrespective of whoever is in power. But today, this is the shame of a nation that the main opposition political party is clearly denied the right to undertake our convention there,” he alleged.
He insisted that the party did submit applications and make payments where required, maintaining that the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike’s claim that no formal application was made was incorrect.
“We applied. What the FCT Minister said is totally incorrect,” Salihu said.
He maintained that the legitimacy and integrity of the party’s planned convention remain unquestionable, arguing that, under the Electoral Act, internal party matters are strictly the affairs of political parties.
“The legitimacy and integrity of our convention tomorrow is never in doubt. Look at the Electoral Act; it is very explicit that this is the internal affair of a political party.”
Adding, Salihu expressed confidence that any Supreme Court ruling delivered soon would be favourable to the ADC.
“If the Supreme Court pronounces a judgment tomorrow, it will be in favor of the ADC,” he said.
He confirmed that the party complied with the mandatory 21-day notice requirement, saying the timing was set to avoid clashes with possible court outcomes and nomination deadlines.
“Yes, we did. We are trying to prevent a situation where you have a judgment in your favor in the courts but you’re running out of time to undertake the convention and produce your presidential nominees,” he explained.
The ADC Chieftain expressed confidence in the judiciary and said the party was proceeding in good faith, insisting that Nigerians would be celebrating the outcome by the following day.
“We believe in the integrity of the judicial system. Tomorrow this time, Nigerians will be celebrating,” he assured.
Favour Odima
