The unveiling of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a unified political platform for Nigeria’s major opposition figures was nearly derailed on Wednesday after a last-minute cancellation by the event’s original venue, Wells Carlton Hotel and Apartments, located in the highbrow Asokoro area of Abuja.
The event, which had been fully paid for and was scheduled to host top political dignitaries including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, was abruptly called off by hotel management just hours before commencement. The cancellation, which has stirred public backlash and allegations of political interference, was communicated to organisers via an official message that cited vague “internal compliance” issues.
Media personality and politician Dele Momodu shared the hotel’s message on Instagram, quoting it as follows:
“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 abrupt development prompted swift reactions from opposition leaders, with Momodu alleging that the cancellation was politically motivated. “The intimidation of the opposition by a jittery government continues,” he wrote. “The hotel management suddenly cancelled the event due to what insiders described as fear of reprisals from APC operatives. But this will not dampen the resolve of opposition forces determined to challenge the ruling party.”
Salihu Lukman, a prominent member of the organising team under People and Passion Consult Ltd, described the hotel’s action as a breach of a binding agreement. “This is unacceptable. Your management has no right to unilaterally sabotage a contract that was validly and legally agreed upon and fully paid for,” he said. “You must meet the terms of the contract fully by allowing the event to hold with all agreed services. This is not negotiable.”
Despite the disruption, the coalition managed to relocate the high-profile unveiling to the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, where the event proceeded later in the day. There, key opposition leaders announced the adoption of the ADC as the new political platform for a broad-based coalition targeting the 2027 elections.
Emerging from a series of high-level strategy meetings, the group also unveiled former Senate President David Mark as the interim national chairman of the party, while former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola was announced as interim national secretary.
The coalition is made up of a formidable line-up of political heavyweights across party lines, including former Minister of Transportation and ex-Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi; former APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie Oyegun; former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami; former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai; former Cross River Governor, Liyel Imoke; and ex-House Speaker and former Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.
Also present were Kashim Imam and several other influential political actors and technocrats from across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, further signalling the seriousness of the movement and its ambition to unseat the APC-led government come 2027.
Though the event eventually went ahead, the last-minute disruption has raised concerns about the shrinking civic space for political engagement in Nigeria and the extent of pressure allegedly being mounted on opposition elements by powerful interests. Organisers and their supporters, however, insist the movement remains unshaken and are pressing ahead with plans to build what they describe as “a united, credible, and people-driven political alternative.”
