…Party says all efforts to rent private facility in FCT blocked
-No official request to use government facilities-Wike
IGNATIUS OKOROCHA, Abuja
There are strong indications that the convention by African Democratic Congress (ADC) that is scheduled to hold today may have been scuttled by the authorities of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) following denial of venue for the exercise.
Daily Champion gathered that all efforts by the party to get permission for the use of Eagles Square or any other government owned facilities failed, as FCTA officials told the party officials that they were not allowed to release such facilities for use by the party.
Fielding questions from journalists in Abuja during his project inspection tour, Barrister Nyesom Wike refuted the allegation, stressing that no official request had been made for the facilities.
The minister questioned the authenticity, stating that he had no knowledge of such an incident or even the party involved.
He noted that if the allegation was linked to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), it could be part of a recurring strategy to attract public sympathy.
“Who denied them? I am not aware of any such development, and I don’t even know which party you are referring to.
If it is the African Democratic Congress (ADC), such claims are their usual attempt to gain public sympathy,” Wike said.
The minister clarified that access to Eagle Square is governed by established procedures, which require interested parties to formally apply through the Abuja Investments Company Limited, the body responsible for managing the venue, alongside payment of stipulated fees.
He further explained that the Moshood Abiola National Stadium Velodrome does not fall under the jurisdiction of the FCT Administration but is controlled by the National Sports Commission.
Wike emphasized that compliance with due process guarantees access, citing previous usage by major political parties.
According to him, both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had adhered to the required procedures when they used the respective venues.
“As we speak, no formal application has been submitted to the Abuja Investments Company Limited.
When the APC used the venue and PDP used the Stadium Velodrome, they complied with the process.
We do not deny anyone access if the rules are followed,” he added.
Meanwhile, the party had after fruitless efforts to secure any government facilities for its Convention in FCT today, had to resort to searching for any available facility in the territory for its programme in order to meet the electoral guideline for political parties.
It was further gathered that the party had at last secured a venue for its Convention at Rainbow Event center at Area 8 Garki, in FCT, Abuja.
However, information reaching us revealed that even after paying for the use of Rainbow Event center at Area 8 Garki, in FCT, Abuja, for the programme today, the owner of the facility got back to the leadership of ADC, turning down the offer of letting the party use his facilities for fear of being shut down by the authorities of FCDA.
According to the party’s Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi , the party was told by the owner of the facility that he was under pressure to cancel the earlier arrangements to allow the party to use his facility for the Convention by FCDA and Minister of FCT, Barrister Nyesom Wike instructing him not to allow ADC use his facilities for its Convention.
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