ADC Faces Crisis As Rainbow Event Centre Owner Alleges Threat To Life Ahead Of Convention

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) is facing fresh turmoil following allegations by the owner of Rainbow Event Centre that his life is under threat over plans to host the party’s national convention scheduled for Tuesday, April 14, 2026.

In a statement posted by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on his verified social media account on Wednesday, the chieftain and senior member of the party described the development as a calculated attempt to frustrate the opposition and undermine democratic processes.

Atiku condemned what he called the intimidation of a private business owner, alleging that there were plans by government agents to revoke the licence of the venue for the sole reason of hosting the ADC convention.

According to the statement, the ADC had met all necessary legal and financial requirements to secure the venue, insisting that no law had been violated.

“Coercing a private business owner to deny a lawfully registered opposition party the use of a venue is not governance. It is not politics. It is the naked conduct of a regime that has lost the argument and now resorts to intimidation,” he stated.

The former Vice President warned that such actions signal a dangerous erosion of democratic values, noting that suppressing opposition activities threatens the fundamental rights of citizens.

He further called on the international community and democratic stakeholders to take note of the situation, describing it as part of a growing pattern of political intolerance.

Despite the alleged threats, Atiku maintained that the ADC would not be deterred, reaffirming the party’s commitment to proceed with the convention.

“We will not be intimidated. We will not be silenced. The convention will be held. The ADC will rise, and Nigeria will rise with it,” the statement added.

As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official response from government authorities regarding the allegations.

Recall that the party had earlier alleged that it was denied access to the National Stadium to hold its convention by the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government, an allegation that was denied by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike.