Three thousand delegates have arrived at the Rainbow Event Centre in Abuja for the ongoing African Democratic Congress’ national convention.
The delegates, dressed in colourful attire, were drawn from the 36 states and Abuja, showcasing unity and diversity within party ranks.
Security operatives conducted thorough checks on all the delegates before they were granted access, as accreditation commenced under the supervision of the accreditation subcommittee, chaired by Austin Akobundu.
The national organising secretary, Chinedu Idigo, explained that delegates’ allocation across states was determined by the size of the state to ensure equitable representation in the convention proceedings.
Mr Idigo, however, expressed dissatisfaction with the challenges the party faces in securing a befitting venue, alleging that several private business owners declined to host ADC due to what he called external pressures and threats.
“We wrote to use Eagle Square but received no response, and our request for the Velodrome (at the National Stadium) was also denied without explanation.
“We approached several venues, including hotels and event centres, but once they realised it was ADC, they declined, citing fear of possible repercussions.
“Even this Rainbow Event Centre initially attempted to cancel after alleged threats, but we insisted on proceeding since payments had already been made,” he stated.
He added, “I do not understand why businesses in Nigeria cannot operate freely without intimidation, as this situation is causing significant financial losses to private operators.”
According to Mr Idigo, the convention will conclude the party’s congresses, ratify a new constitution and set the stage for the party’s primaries.
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