The highly anticipated unveiling of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a collective opposition platform was unexpectedly disrupted on Wednesday when the Wells Carlton Hotel and Apartments in Asokoro, Abuja, cancelled the venue booking less than a day before the event. The unveiling was meant to mark a pivotal moment for Nigeria’s opposition, positioning the ADC as the main vehicle to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections.
Despite having paid in full for the reservation, organisers were informed on the morning of the event that the hotel could no longer accommodate the programme due to a vague “internal compliance matter.” The timing of the cancellation, coming so close to the event, has raised eyebrows and suspicions among opposition figures.
Dele Momodu, a prominent media personality and politician, shared a screenshot of the hotel’s message on his Instagram page. The message read: “Dear Esteemed Patron, 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 sparked outrage among opposition leaders, who believe the move was politically motivated. Momodu accused the government of intimidation tactics, stating, “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 by the Management of the hotel 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.”
Salihu Lukman, representing People and Passion Consult Ltd, the company responsible for organising the event, condemned the hotel’s actions as a breach of contract. He asserted, “This is unacceptable. Your management has no right to unilaterally sabotage a contract 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 full compliments of all the services agreed to. This is not negotiable.”
The ADC unveiling was expected to bring together influential political figures from across Nigeria’s political spectrum, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Senate President David Mark, and former governors Aminu Tambuwal, Sule Lamido, Liyel Imoke, and Sam Egwu. Other notable attendees reportedly included Labour Party’s Peter Obi, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, and former Minister Rotimi Amaechi.
This incident highlights the challenges facing opposition parties in Nigeria as they seek to unite and position themselves for the upcoming elections amid a tense political environment.