Rauf Aregbesola, the ADC National Secretary, has said at the African Democratic Congress National convention held today in Abuja, that the party has done everything required by law to make sure INEC monitors the event.
He explained that they sent all necessary letters and documents on time including soft and hard copies of their member lists twenty-one days before the event. Aregbesola declared that INECs absence from the convention is a clear dereliction of duty aimed at delegitimizing a legitimate party action. He stated that INEC failed to perform its constitutional responsibility and described the electoral body as acting illegally like a criminal organization that seems to be working to weaken the ADC and help the ruling party win easily without any strong challenge.
Aregbesola talked with strong passion and told the crowd that the only condition that can make a convention invalid is clearly stated in the Electoral Act. He said the ADC met every single requirement on time and INEC has no excuse or hiding place. He warned that INEC is behaving as if the ADC has been banned or does not exist which is completely false wrong and against the constitution.
Before the National Convention could start the government denied the party access to the popular Eagle Square venue. The party then moved to the Rainbow Event Centre after paying all the fees and setting everything up. But the owner of the Rainbow Event Centre later said he was under heavy pressure from the FCDA and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike. They threatened to revoke his licence if he allowed the ADC to hold the convention there. Despite this pressure and intimidation, the ADC went ahead with the National Convention as planned.
Many Nigerians are now talking about it. Some people praised him for standing strong and speaking the truth while others are watching closely to see what will happen next. The whole National Convention was full of determination about bringing different groups together and making plans to win power in 2027, making it clear that the political race is already getting very hot.
