A setback has hit the planned unveiling of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a unifying political platform for Nigeria’s opposition, following the abrupt cancellation of the event venue just hours before the program was set to begin. The event, slated to take place at the Wells Carlton Hotel and Apartments in Asokoro, Abuja, was intended to formally introduce the ADC’s strategy to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the upcoming 2027 general elections.
Organizers received notification Wednesday morning that the hotel could no longer accommodate the event due to an unspecified “internal compliance matter.” This last-minute decision, communicated via a message shared on social media by media personality and politician Dele Momodu, stated: “Thank you once again for choosing the Wells Carlton Hotel and Apartments. We sincerely regret to inform you that due to an internal compliance matter that has just come to our attention, we are unable to proceed with hosting your scheduled event. We are fully aware that the event is less than 24 hours away, and we deeply apologise for the timing and inconvenience this may cause.”
The sudden cancellation has prompted sharp criticisms from opposition figures. Momodu, in his response, suggested that the decision was influenced by political intimidation from the ruling party. He asserted, “The intimidation of opposition by a jittery government continues as the booking of a venue for the unveiling of the adopted party, ADC, by the coalition has been unilaterally and suddenly cancelled due to what insiders described as fear of reprisals from APC operatives. But this will not dampen the daredevil determination of opposition forces who are poised to hotly challenge the ruling party.”
Adding to the backlash, Salihu Lukman, representing People and Passion Consult Ltd, issued a statement calling the hotel’s actions a breach of contract. “This is unacceptable. Your management has no right to unilaterally sabotage a contract that was validly and legally agreed to and fully paid for. You must meet the terms of the contract fully by allowing the event to hold with all agreed services. This is not negotiable,” Lukman emphasized.
The ADC unveiling was expected to attract top political figures across party lines, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Senate President David Mark, and former governors such as Aminu Tambuwal, Sule Lamido, Liyel Imoke, and Sam Egwu. Other prominent attendees were reportedly set to include Labour Party leader Peter Obi, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, and ex-Minister Rotimi Amaechi, all of whom now face uncertainty regarding their participation in this key event.