The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the Bola Tinubu administration of blocking its access to public venues ahead of its national convention in Abuja. Spokesperson Bolaji Abdullahi confirmed the party's application to use Eagle Square had not received a response, while the Velodrome was denied due to a scheduled cycling championship. "Not to my knowledge. We applied for the Eagle Square, but they have failed to respond. We also asked to use the velodrome, but they said they are hosting a cycling championship," Abdullahi said in an interview with SaharaReporters on Friday. He declined to disclose the party's alternative venue. The convention is scheduled for May 14, 2025. The ADC faces an internal leadership crisis after Ralph Nwosu resigned as chairman of the National Working Committee in July 2025. Factions loyal to David Mark and Nafiu Bala are now contesting leadership, but INEC has refused to recognise either, citing a pending court ruling. Nwosu insists the party has fulfilled all legal obligations, having submitted its convention programme to INEC, which endorsed it. He affirmed the event would proceed as planned. The situation has drawn broader opposition concern. Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, Aminu Tambuwal, and Rauf Aregbesola recently protested at INEC's Abuja office, accusing the federal government of enabling a one-party state. The Presidency, through spokesman Sunday Dare, denied the claims, stating all registered parties have equal rights.
Ralph Nwosu's insistence that the ADC convention will go ahead—despite INEC's non-recognition and venue denials—reveals a party operating in legal limbo while betting on political symbolism over institutional clarity. The refusal of Eagle Square and Velodrome, both federal facilities, without formal rejection or alternative offer, fits a pattern where administrative silence becomes a tool of political pressure. That the cycling championship at the Velodrome emerged as the stated reason only when pressed suggests timing is not coincidental, especially with opposition leaders already alleging systemic sidelining.
The deeper issue is not just venue access but control over political space. INEC's refusal to recognise any ADC faction until a court rules—while legally defensible—creates a vacuum the federal government can exploit through passive obstruction. By withholding approvals without explicit denial, authorities avoid direct confrontation while achieving the same outcome: disrupting opposition cohesion. The protest by Atiku, Obi, Amaechi, Tambuwal and Aregbesola was less about the ADC and more about self-preservation, a sign that even established parties fear being boxed out through bureaucratic inertia.
Ordinary ADC members and voters stand to lose the most. Without a recognised national leadership or convention, the party risks being disqualified from future elections, nullifying their membership and organisational efforts. This undermines not just the ADC but the credibility of Nigeria's multi-party system, especially for voters who see their preferred platforms eroded through non-transparent channels.
This episode mirrors a broader trend: the use of state infrastructure and regulatory ambiguity to tilt the political playing field. Similar tactics have surfaced in past election cycles, where opposition parties faced last-minute logistical roadblocks. The current situation reinforces the perception that dissent, even when lawful, is tolerated only when it doesn't threaten the status quo.
