The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike
The management of De Rainbow Event Centre has dismissed allegations that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, threatened to withdraw its operating licence over the hosting of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) national convention.
The denial comes amid controversy surrounding the party’s convention held on April 14 in Abuja, following earlier assertions by ADC officials that the venue faced pressure to cancel the event.
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Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, the centre’s director, Martina K. Yusuf, described the claims as baseless and unverified.
“We wish to make it clear that De Rainbow Event Marquee did not receive any threat of licence revocation from the FCT Minister or any government authority,” she said.
“These reports did not originate from us and, to our knowledge, are inaccurate. They appear to have been circulated without proper verification.
“We urge the public and the media to disregard the claims entirely and rely only on confirmed information.”
Yusuf explained that the statement was issued in response to concerns from clients about the status of their bookings.
“This clarification became necessary after enquiries from clients with scheduled events who were worried about their reservations.
“We assure the public that De Rainbow Event Marquee remains fully operational and all confirmed bookings stand. Ensuring a safe and well-managed environment for our clients remains our priority.
“We appreciate the continued trust and understanding of our patrons,” she added.
The dispute follows earlier remarks by ADC leaders aligned with former Senate President David Mark, who claimed the venue was under pressure to withdraw from hosting the convention.
ADC spokesperson Bolaji Abdullahi had also alleged in a statement on X that the centre’s management reported threats from officials of the Federal Capital Development Authority and the FCT Minister.
According to him, the venue risked losing its licence if it proceeded with the event.
Despite the alleged intimidation, Abdullahi maintained that the party went ahead with the convention as planned, stressing that all payments had been made and a formal agreement secured prior to the controversy.
However, the event centre’s latest response contradicts those claims, introducing a fresh dimension to the dispute over the convention.
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