By George Ozalla
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has been forced into an urgent search for a new venue in Abuja after Transcorp Hilton Abuja withdrew from hosting the party’s planned national convention, barely days to the event.
The development was disclosed in a statement by the ADC Vanguard, the mobilisation arm of the opposition coalition working through the party ahead of the 2027 general elections. The group said it received notice from the hotel that it would no longer host the gathering, a move that has disrupted final preparations for the high-level meeting.
The convention, which is expected to bring together key political actors aligning under the ADC platform, remains on course despite the setback. Party officials say efforts are ongoing to secure an alternative venue within a short timeframe, with internal coordination already intensified to avoid any shift in the programme.
Within the coalition, reactions have reflected both concern and determination. Some supporters have proposed moving the event out of the Federal Capital Territory entirely, suggesting cities such as Kano and Kaduna as fallback options. Others have insisted that the convention must hold as scheduled in Abuja, maintaining that logistical challenges should not derail what is considered a critical step in the coalition’s build-up to the next election cycle.
The ADC had earlier released a detailed timetable for its internal processes, signalling the start of a nationwide reorganisation. Polling unit and ward congresses were fixed for 7 April, while the national convention is slated for 14 April. The exercise is expected to produce a new leadership structure and deepen the party’s grassroots presence across the country.
This is not the first time the coalition has faced a last-minute venue withdrawal in Abuja. In 2025, another hotel pulled out of hosting the formal unveiling of the ADC as a unifying opposition platform, citing internal compliance issues at the time. The recurrence of such disruptions has raised concerns among party stakeholders about the consistency of venue commitments for politically sensitive events in the capital.
As of the time of filing this report, Transcorp Hilton Abuja has not issued any public statement explaining the reason for its decision. The absence of an official position has left room for speculation, although party officials have refrained from attributing motives, choosing instead to focus on salvaging arrangements.
Sources within the coalition confirmed that all statutory requirements have been met ahead of the planned activities, including formal notification to the Independent National Electoral Commission. This, they noted, underscores the party’s readiness to proceed with the congresses and convention in line with electoral guidelines.
The incident comes at a time when political alignments are gradually taking shape across the country ahead of the 2027 general elections. The African Democratic Congress (ADC), now serving as a rallying platform for a broad opposition coalition, is seeking to consolidate its structures and present a coordinated front capable of challenging established political forces. The ongoing congresses and convention are central to that effort, even as logistical setbacks continue to test the resilience of the coalition’s preparations.
