The Chinese embassy in Nigeria has confirmed that the African Democratic Congress, ADC, affirmation that Chinese envoys attended the convention held in Abuja is untrue.
At the event yesterday at the Rainbow Event Centre in Abuja, the organizers said that Yu Dunhai, the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, was present. However, the embassy has confirmed to news agencies that Chen Yao, an embassy official, confirmed tha the embassy was unaware of the Asian guy who was spotted at the event and whom ADC officials Dino Melaye and Rauf Aregbesola said was the Chinese envoy.
Further reports, however, can attest that the Asian man who was introduced at the function is not the Chinese ambassador to Nigeria.
In the same vein, Rauf Aregbesola, the National Secretary of the ADC faction, added that individuals purportedly representing the British High Commission in Nigeria attended the convention. He asserted that the British High Commission was represented by a three-person delegation headed by its Secretary (Political), Thomas Samson. He said that Damilola Oyedele, a Nigerian employee of the High Commission, was also a member of the delegation.
As attending political party events in Nigeria is uncommon for foreign diplomats, the High Commission has not yet made a statement to prove its attendance or not.
Recall that the David Mark-led faction of the party proceeded with the national convention yesterday despite strict warning from INEC that it woud not delegations to the convention venue. INEC, indeed, fulfilled its promise and did not send delegations to the event.
Despite stiff frustrations to plans, and following reported attempts by the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike to prevent the use of Eagle Square and other facilities, the opposition party relocated the rally to Rainbow Event Centre, a private location.
However, the Rainbow Event Center’s owner almost revoked the party’s permit to use the space just hours before the event was scheduled to start.
According to ADC spokesperson Bolaji Abdullahi, who made this revelation at midnight on Monday, the owner was under tremendous pressure from the FCT officials, who also threatened to cancel his license if he permitted the convention to take place.
Nonetheless, ENigeria Newspaper can confirm that party leaders and members attended the event, which went according to schedule.
