By CHARLES IWUOHA

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has filed a legal demand against Wells Carlton Hotel and Apartments in Asokoro, Abuja, seeking N100 million in damages after the abrupt cancellation of a fully paid venue reservation just hours before its highly anticipated coalition unveiling event.

The incident, which has sent shockwaves through the political landscape, is being described by opposition leaders as a clear case of state-backed sabotage orchestrated to derail the emergence of a formidable opposition bloc ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Scheduled for July 2, 2025, the event was meant to unveil the ADC as the central platform for a broad-based coalition of opposition heavyweights, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s Peter Obi, former Senate President David Mark, and ex-governors Nasir El-Rufai and Rauf Aregbesola.

The coalition had billed the occasion as a defining moment in the build-up to 2027, positioning the ADC as a credible alternative to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

But just before midnight on July 1, less than 24 hours to the event, the upscale Wells Carlton Hotel issued a shock notice canceling the booking.

The hotel cited an ambiguous “internal compliance matter,” sparking immediate backlash. A screenshot of the hotel’s message, shared by media personality and politician, Dele Momodu, read: “We are unable to proceed with hosting your scheduled event… We deeply apologise for the timing and inconvenience this may cause.” The timing and vagueness of the cancellation fueled speculation that political pressure from ruling APC operatives forced the hotel’s hand.

The ADC was forced into a last-minute scramble, relocating the event to the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, where it held the coalition unveiling at 2:00 p.m. on July 2. According to the party’s legal counsel, Kabiru Abdullahi, the last-minute change inflicted both reputational and financial damage on the ADC.

“We were thrown into chaos. We had to secure another venue on short notice, reorganize logistics, and accommodate more guests than anticipated. The emotional and financial toll was significant,” Abdullahi stated.

The ADC has formally demanded a full refund of the N6 million venue payment, a public apology, and N100 million in damages from Wells Carlton Hotel for breach of contract, embarrassment, and the inconvenience caused. Abdullahi warned that the party would proceed with legal action if the hotel fails to meet the demands. “This breach not only violated a legally binding agreement but disrupted a major national event and tarnished the party’s public image,” he said.

The controversy has sparked intense debate across social media, with Nigerians calling out the hotel’s actions. “They must pay that money,” tweeted one user, while another described the cancellation as “a breach of trust by a high-end hotel succumbing to political pressure.” Opposition figures including Dele Momodu and Salihu Lukman have doubled down on claims of political interference, accusing the APC of orchestrating the disruption to frustrate the emergence of a unified opposition front.

So far, Wells Carlton Hotel has remained silent, neither responding to the ADC’s legal notice nor issuing any public statement to clarify its decision.

Despite the setback, ADC leaders insist they remain resolute. Organizers have reaffirmed their commitment to building a credible opposition alliance, emphasizing that no amount of intimidation will deter them from challenging the APC in the next general elections.