What was meant to be a landmark day for Nigeria’s political opposition was on Wednesday morning challenged after the Wells Carlton Hotel and Apartments founded by late billionaire Capt Hosa Okunbo abruptly cancelled a fully paid reservation for the unveiling of the African Democratic Congress (ADC)- the platform to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 elections.
The event, scheduled for Wednesday, July 2, 2025, was expected to formally present the ADC as the political platform uniting major opposition figures across party lines at the Wells Carlton Hotel, Asokoro Abuja.
However, just hours before the programme, the Wells Carlton Hotel now controlled by Capt Okunbo’s heirs informed organisers that it would no longer be able to host the ADC gathering, citing an unspecified “internal compliance matter.”
In a message addressed to the event organisers, the hotel wrote:
“We sincerely regret to inform you that due to an internal compliance matter that has just come to our attention, we are unable to proceed with hosting your scheduled event.”
The sudden cancellation has triggered outrage within opposition ranks, with prominent figures accusing the APC-led federal government of orchestrating the disruption to frustrate the opposition’s momentum.
Media mogul and politician Dele Momodu, who posted details of the incident on social media, described the development as part of an ongoing campaign of “intimidation of opposition by a jittery government.” He insisted the cancellation of the ADC unveiling by the Wells Carlton Hotel was politically motivated and
meant to instil fear in stakeholders ahead of the coalition’s formal takeoff.
But in a strongly-worded protest letter, opposition representative Salihu Lukman, writing on behalf of People and Passion Consult Ltd, demanded the hotel honour its contractual agreement.
“This is unacceptable. Your management has no right to unilaterally sabotage a contract validly and legally agreed to and fully paid for,” he wrote. “You must meet the terms of the contract fully by allowing the event to hold with full compliments of all the services agreed to. This is not negotiable.”
The coalition backing ADC features some of the most powerful names in Nigerian politics, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Senate President David Mark, former Governors Aminu Tambuwal, Sule Lamido, Liyel Imoke, and Sam Egwu. Also involved are key figures outside the PDP fold, such as Peter Obi, Nasir El-Rufai, and Rotimi Amaechi.