A major event to unveil the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a coalition platform for Nigeria’s opposition forces was abruptly disrupted on Wednesday when the venue cancelled the booking just hours before kickoff, citing an “internal compliance matter.”
The highly anticipated programme was scheduled to take place at the Wells Carlton Hotel and Apartments in Asokoro, Abuja, and aimed to publicly introduce the ADC as the unified opposition vehicle to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections.
However, organisers were informed on Wednesday morning that the hotel would no longer host the event. A screenshot shared by media personality and politician Dele Momodu captured the hotel’s message, which read in part: “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.”
Momodu, reacting to the development, accused the government of orchestrating the cancellation to frustrate the opposition. He claimed the hotel’s management acted under pressure from APC operatives, describing it as part of “the intimidation of opposition by a jittery government.” Despite the disruption, he vowed that opposition forces remained undeterred.
In a separate statement, Salihu Lukman of People and Passion Consult Ltd, which facilitated the event, condemned the hotel’s action as a breach of contract. He demanded that the hotel honour the agreement in full, insisting that the cancellation was “not negotiable.”
The cancelled unveiling was expected to attract an array of prominent political figures from across the spectrum. Among them were former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Senate President David Mark, former governors Aminu Tambuwal, Sule Lamido, Sam Egwu, and Liyel Imoke, as well as Labour Party’s Peter Obi, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, and former Minister Rotimi Amaechi.
What You Should Know
- The ADC’s unveiling as the opposition’s 2027 platform was cancelled by Wells Carlton Hotel in Abuja on July 2, 2025, citing an “internal compliance matter.”
- Opposition figures, including Dele Momodu and Salihu Lukman, accused the APC of political intimidation, alleging pressure from figures like Nyesom Wike.
- The event was to feature leaders like Atiku Abubakar, David Mark, Peter Obi, and Nasir El-Rufai, with Mark as interim ADC Chairman. – The ADC was chosen after INEC stalled the coalition’s All Democratic Alliance registration, aiming to unite opposition against the APC.
- The cancellation fuels concerns about political interference, but the opposition remains determined to challenge Tinubu in 2027.
