The African Democratic Congress (ADC)-led coalition has announced a new venue for its official unveiling following the abrupt cancellation of the original booking by Wells Carlton Hotel earlier on Wednesday. The event will now be held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, starting at 2:00 pm.
The announcement was made in a statement signed by the ADC Deputy National Secretary, Nkem Ukandu, which also indicated that members of the National Working Committee, National Executive Committee, Board of Trustees, and other key stakeholders are expected to attend. The statement noted that attendance is self-sponsored.
The Wells Carlton Hotel had cancelled the reservation less than 24 hours before the planned event, citing an unspecified “internal compliance matter.” A message from the hotel, shared publicly by media personality and politician Dele Momodu, read: “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 cancellation sparked strong reactions from opposition figures, with Momodu accusing political interference. He stated, “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.”
A representative of People and Passion Consult Ltd, Salihu Lukman, also condemned the hotel’s action, calling it a breach of contract. He said, “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 unveiling event was expected to bring together key political figures across party lines, 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 include Labour Party’s Peter Obi, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, and former Minister Rotimi Amaechi.
The ADC is positioned as the platform for a new opposition coalition aimed at challenging the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections. The sudden cancellation and subsequent move to a new venue underscore the tensions surrounding the coalition’s launch.
