ADC Convention Collapse: Ologbondiyan Alleges Government Sabotage

The African Democratic Congress has detailed how a string of last-minute venue cancellations disrupted preparations for its national convention.

Speaking on ARISE News on Tuesday, the Chairman of the party’s Media and Publicity Sub-committee for the convention, Kola Ologbondiyan, described the experience as deeply troubling, noting that the party faced repeated setbacks while trying to secure a suitable location.

He recounted an incident in which a venue was abruptly withdrawn during an inspection, after the management claimed it had a conflicting event that required advance planning, rendering the requested dates unavailable.

Ologbondiyan suggested that the recurring cancellations were not coincidental but rather indicative of external pressure from powerful political figures. He alleged that individuals within government circles, with significant influence and resources, were uneasy and interfering with the party’s arrangements.

According to him, the most recent challenge involved the Rainbow Events Center, where the party had planned to host the convention. He claimed that shortly before midnight, the venue’s owner informed party leaders that he had been directed to withdraw permission, citing concerns about jeopardizing his livelihood.

Despite these obstacles, Ologbondiyan stressed that the party remained resolute and would proceed with the convention regardless of the circumstances. He stated that if access to the venue was ultimately denied, the party might consider holding the gathering elsewhere, even if it meant moving to an open space.

He also maintained that the ADC had met all contractual obligations, including full payment for the venue, insisting there was no justification for cancelling the arrangement at such a late stage.

Addressing concerns about the legality of the convention, he affirmed that the party had complied with all requirements set by the Independent National Electoral Commission, including issuing the mandatory 21-day notice. He added that there was no court order or legal restriction preventing the event from taking place.

On internal disputes, particularly those arising from state congresses, Ologbondiyan acknowledged their existence but described them as routine political disagreements that posed no serious threat to the party’s unity.

Looking ahead, he noted that decisions regarding leadership positions and the party’s presidential candidate remain open, with the focus currently on strengthening the opposition platform before addressing those questions.

Reaffirming the party’s stance, he concluded that despite the challenges, the ADC remains committed to moving forward with its convention as planned.