A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dino Melaye, has insisted that the party’s national convention will proceed as scheduled despite last-minute disputes over the event venue in Abuja.

Melaye, a former Senator representing Kogi West and 2023 gubernatorial candidate on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), made this known on Tuesday while addressing journalists at the Rainbow Event Centre, the proposed venue for the convention.

The lawmaker made this remark amid claims by the ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, alleging the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, alongside the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), pressured the venue’s management to cancel the event.

Abdullahi described the situation as political intimidation, stating: “After paying all the fees required… the owner of Rainbow Event Centre has just informed us that he has come under pressure… that if he allows the ADC the use of his facilities, his licence will be revoked.”

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He maintained that a binding agreement had already been signed and all payments completed, vowing that the party would not be deterred.

“We will hold our convention tomorrow as planned… We will not bow to this creeping tyranny.”

Backing the party’s position, Melaye stressed that the ADC had fulfilled all contractual obligations and would not vacate the venue.

“We refused to leave Rainbow Event Centre because we have a duly signed contract. We paid in full… and we will hold it here.”

The controversy deepened after a media aide to embattled ADC National Chairman David Mark, Kola Ologbondiyan, earlier claimed the party had struggled to secure a venue less than 24 hours before the event, alleging sabotage.

Ologbondiyan also said efforts to obtain approval for alternative venues, including the Eagle Square and the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, were unsuccessful.

However, Wike denied the allegations, stating that no formal application had been submitted to his office.

“Who denied them? I am not aware of any such development,” he said, adding that public facilities remain accessible to groups that follow due process.

Despite the dispute, ADC leaders maintain that the convention will go ahead as planned.