Controversy Trails Atiku, Babachir Lawal Alleged suspension by Adamawa ADC Faction as Convention Holds in Abuja Despite Venue Blockade Fears

The African Democratic Congress is currently holding its national convention at the Rainbow Event Centre in Abuja on Tuesday, as thousands of delegates from across Nigeria gathered for the event despite a deepening leadership crisis and allegations of government attempts to block the venue.

About 3,000 delegates from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory converged at the facility in Garki, with accreditation ongoing under the supervision of the Austin Akobundu-led accreditation sub-committee. Security personnel conducted thorough checks on all delegates before granting them access as party faithful dressed in colourful attires and bore various party insignia in a cheerful mood.

The convention is taking place on the same day a faction of the ADC in Adamawa State announced the suspension of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation Babachir Lawal. The factional chairman of the ADC in Adamawa State, Alhaji Raji Zumo, announced the suspension while addressing journalists in Yola, alleging gross indiscipline, fostering disunity, creating parallel structures, undermining lawful authority, and disregarding a subsisting court order.

“Let it be clearly stated, no individual, regardless of his status or influence, is above the law or the constitution of the African Democratic Congress, as long as he is a card-carrying member of the party,” Zumo said. “ADC is not a personal property, and we will not allow any individual or group, no matter how highly placed, to hijack the party or turn it into a personal estate.”

However, the suspension was immediately dismissed by other party leaders. Babachir Lawal rejected the suspension, describing it as “the handiwork of Indian hemp smokers,” and urged party members to disregard it. The ADC chairman in Adamawa State, Shehu Yohanna, also rejected the suspension, stating that Zumo was no longer a member of the party.

As delegates gathered in Abuja, the party faced significant obstacles in securing the convention venue. The National Organising Secretary, Chinedu Idigo, disclosed that the party wrote to use Eagle Square but received no response, and a 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,” Idigo said. “Even this Rainbow Event Centre initially attempted to cancel after alleged threats, but we insisted on proceeding since payments had already been made.”

Senator Dino Melaye, a former lawmaker who is now an ADC member, accused the ruling party and the FCT administration of frustrating the party’s venue arrangement. “We be di owners of dis place, we sign contract, we sign agreement and dem open di place. We come dey hia around 11:pm yesterday, dem tok say order come from di office of di FCT minister and from above say make we go out. Dem say dem wan lock up di place. I say, we don pay, we don sign agreement, why? dem say no, dem no fit do am again, say make we comot,” Melaye said.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who was present at the convention, has alleged a plot by government agents to prevent the party from using the venue. In a statement shared ahead of the convention, Atiku accused authorities of planning to revoke the venue’s license solely because it was booked to host the ADC event.

“The reports from the spokesperson of our great party, which exposes the plans of the government and its agents to revoke the licence of Rainbow Event Centre for the singular offence of hosting the African Democratic Congress convention slated for today, Tuesday, April 14, 2026, is a shameful and cowardly abuse of public office,” Atiku said.

He further stated, “Let it be said without equivocation: coercing a private business owner to deny a lawfully registered opposition party the use of a venue is not governance. It is not politics. It is the naked conduct of a regime that has lost the argument, lost the people, and now reaches for the boot because it has nothing else left. The ADC has paid every fee. The ADC has signed every contract. The ADC has broken no law.”

Top opposition figures were seen at the convention grounds. Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi, and former Sokoto State governor Aminu Tambuwal held a closed-door strategic meeting with embattled ADC National Chairman David Mark ahead of the convention proceedings. Also present were ADC chieftains Hajia Naja’atu Mohammed and Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, underscoring the growing coalition of opposition leaders rallying around the party.

The convention is not an elective convention, according to ADC National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi, meaning delegates will not elect new leadership. Instead, the national convention serves as the highest decision-making organ of the party, and the gathering is expected to ratify key decisions made by the party’s National Working Committee, approve a new constitution, and outline the party’s strategy for the 2027 general elections.

The Independent National Electoral Commission has said it will not recognise either David Mark or his rival Nafiu Bala as chairman of the ADC until the court decides on pending leadership disputes. Despite this, party officials expressed confidence that the legal matters would be resolved in their favour. Ladan Salihu, deputy chairman of the media subcommittee of the ADC convention, said the party cannot afford to wait for court judgements given the timeline for the 2027 elections, which INEC has already released.

The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has denied allegations that the ADC was denied access to Eagle Square. “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, such claims are their usual attempt to gain public sympathy,” Wike said.

Despite the multiple crises and the ongoing suspension controversy involving Atiku and Babachir Lawal, the ADC has proceeded with its convention as planned. Party officials maintain that the gathering will successfully conclude the party’s congress cycle and prepare the ground for future party primaries.