By Emmanuel Thomas I Tuesday, April 14. 26
ABUJA, Nigeria — Abubakar Atiku, the prominent Nigerian political figure and opposition leader, issued a blistering condemnation on Tuesday, accusing the federal government of using state power to intimidate private businesses and stifle democratic assembly.
The outcry follows reports that the government has threatened to revoke the license of the Rainbow Event Centre in Abuja. The venue was scheduled to host the national convention of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) today, April 14, 2026.
In a statement released early Tuesday, Mr. Atiku characterized the move as a “shameful and cowardly abuse of public office.” He alleged that the government is coercing private business owners to deny opposition parties the right to gather, marking a significant escalation in political tensions ahead of the 2027 general elections.
”Coercing a private business owner to deny a lawfully registered opposition party the use of a venue is not governance,” Mr. Atiku said. “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, which has positioned itself as a growing alternative to the ruling party, maintains that it has complied with all legal requirements, including fee payments and contractual obligations. Mr. Atiku argued that the disruption of the convention is part of a broader, more insidious trend in the country’s political landscape.
According to Mr. Atiku, Nigerian democracy is being “strangled” through:
Vindictive acts against opposition parties.
The erosion of free assembly rights.
Intimidation of private sector entities that engage with political rivals.
The timing of the standoff is particularly sensitive. With the 2027 elections appearing on the horizon, Mr. Atiku made a direct appeal to the global community, urging “every democratic partner of Nigeria” to monitor the government’s actions.
Despite the alleged threats to the venue’s operating license, the ADC leadership insists that the convention will proceed as planned. “We will not be intimidated,” Mr. Atiku stated. “We will not bow to this creeping tyranny.”
The Nigerian government has not yet issued an official response to the allegations. However, the standoff at the Rainbow Event Centre is already being viewed by analysts as a litmus test for the state of civil liberties in Africa’s most populous democracy.
