Prominent Abuja-based hotel, Transcorp Hilton, has firmly denied reports claiming it cancelled a booking for a political rally, describing the narrative as false, misleading, and deliberately fabricated.
The hotel, in an official statement issued on Thursday and signed by its Acting General Manager, Mohamed Said Khalil, said the allegations currently circulating across social media platforms do not reflect the true situation.
According to the management, there was never any confirmed reservation to cancel in the first place.
“Our attention has been drawn to false and misleading information circulating on social media alleging that Transcorp Hilton Abuja cancelled a booking for a political rally. We wish to categorically state that this claim is entirely false and does not reflect the facts,” the statement read.
Providing further clarification, the hotel disclosed that what transpired was merely an inquiry made on Easter Monday regarding the availability of its facilities.
However, due to prior commitments and lack of available space, the hotel said it could not accommodate the request.
“An inquiry was made on Easter Monday; but there was no availability to accommodate the request. Consequently, no booking was made at any point. We therefore reaffirm that there was no cancellation, contrary to what is being purported,” the statement added.
The management stressed that the viral claims suggesting a deliberate cancellation were not only inaccurate but also malicious in intent.
“The narrative currently being circulated is inaccurate, malicious, and entirely fabricated. We urge the public to disregard this false information,” the statement concluded.
The clarification comes at a time of heightened political tension in the Federal Capital Territory, particularly surrounding the planned national convention of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which has been embroiled in both internal and external disputes.
SaharaReporters had earlier reported that the ADC accused the administration of President Bola Tinubu of attempting to frustrate its convention by allegedly denying the party access to major public venues in Abuja.
According to the party’s spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC had formally applied to use Eagle Square for the event but received no official response from authorities.
He further revealed that the party explored an alternative venue at the Velodrome, but the request was declined on the grounds that the facility had been booked for a cycling championship.
“Not to my knowledge. We applied for the Eagle Square, but they have failed to respond. We also asked to use the velodrome, but they said they are hosting a cycling championship,” Abdullahi told SaharaReporters.
The string of venue-related setbacks has fuelled suspicions within the opposition party, with some members alleging a coordinated effort to hinder its activities ahead of the convention.
The situation is further complicated by the ADC’s lingering leadership crisis, involving factions aligned with key political figures and awaiting judicial resolution.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has so far declined to recognise any faction as the legitimate leadership of the party, citing a pending court decision, a development that has deepened uncertainty within the party’s ranks.
Meanwhile, prominent opposition leaders have also weighed in on the controversy, accusing the federal government of shrinking the democratic space and attempting to weaken opposition platforms.
The Presidency, however, has consistently denied these allegations, maintaining that all political parties are entitled to equal participation under the law and that no group is being deliberately targeted.
With the ADC insisting that its national convention will proceed as scheduled despite the mounting obstacles, the unfolding developments signal a potential political showdown in Abuja, as tensions continue to rise over access to venues and the broader question of political freedom in Nigeria.
