- UK Defends Officials’ Presence At ADC Convention
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The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has defended the presence of its officials at the national convention of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), describing such engagements as part of standard diplomatic practice.
The clarification followed reports that a delegation from the British High Commission attended the convention held in Abuja on Tuesday.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that according to the ADC, the three-member delegation was led by the Political Secretary at the British High Commission, Thomas Samson, and included a Nigerian staff member, Damilola Oyedele.
The party also claimed that Yu Dunhai attended the event. However, the Chinese embassy in Nigeria denied the claim, stating that neither the ambassador nor any Chinese diplomat was present.
An embassy official further clarified that an Asian man identified at the event was unknown to the mission.
Responding to enquiries, an FCDO spokesperson said diplomatic missions regularly engage with a wide range of political and civic actors, including political parties.
“Officials from the British High Commission, like other international missions, are invited to and routinely attend a range of events and meetings, including those hosted by political parties,” the spokesperson said.
“Attendance of these events reflects the UK Government’s commitment to and engagement with the democratic process in Nigeria.”
The UK, however, did not explicitly confirm or deny the presence of its representatives at the ADC convention.
The FCDO added that it remains committed to supporting credible, inclusive, and peaceful elections in Nigeria through partnerships aimed at strengthening democratic institutions and electoral processes.
While diplomatic missions often maintain contact with multiple political stakeholders, including opposition parties, attendance at party conventions is relatively uncommon, particularly when officials are publicly introduced at such events.
The ADC, which is positioning itself as a major opposition platform ahead of the 2027 general elections, has recently attracted several high-profile political figures from across party lines.
