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Says Privately Owned Events Centres Rejecting for Fear of Govt Harassments
- Safiu Kehinde
Former Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbodiyan, has accused the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) of refusing to grant the African Democratic Congress’ (ADC) request to use the Eagle Square in Abuja for the party’s National Convention.
Ologbodiyan, further disclosed that effort to get the Ministry of Sports permission to use the MKO Stadium also proved abortive as the Ministry allegedly rejected the party’s request to use the stadium’s Valedrom.
The ex-PDP spokesperson, who had joined the ADC, made this known in a statement issued on his X handle on Monday.
Ologbodiyan attached a copy of the letter sent to the FCTA by the ADC National Organisation Secretary, Chinedu Idigo.
The letter issued on the 7th of April 2026 also contained the FCTA stamp acknowledging the submission of the letter to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
With no response issued ever since the submission, the ADC approached several private Event Centres who, according to Ologbodiyan, also rejected the party’s request over alleged fear of harassments from the government.
“24 hours to the ADC National Convention, the Nigerians-aligned political party is yet to be issued a venue.
“As the bromide has shown, a letter was presented to the Office of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Chief Nyesom Wike, for a permit to use the Eagles Square.
“The letter was acknowledged but no response.
“The ADC team paid several visits to the Ministry of Sports officials at the MKO Stadium. At the end, ADC was refused the use of the Valedrom.
“To make matters worse, privately owned Event Centres in Abuja are turning down the ADC requests for fears of harrasments in various forms from the government.” Ologbodiyan wrote.
However, the ex-PDP Chieftain assured ADC members and Nigerians that the party’s convention will still hold on Tuesday as planned
“All ADC members, teeming party supporters and indeed all Nigerians are assured that, as contained in the NOTICE issued to INEC, the ADC National Convention will hold in Abuja as scheduled on Tuesday, April 14th, 2026.” He added.