In a press release issued on August 10, 2026, the UDP said it first requested the venue in February 2026 for its national retreat but was told verbally that the centre had stopped renting its facilities to political parties.
However, the party noted that the National People’s Party (NPP) was later allowed to use the same venue for its manifesto launch, raising questions about the consistency of the policy.
The UDP made a second request to use the centre for its 30th Anniversary Celebration Conference. This time, it said, the request was denied in writing on grounds of “technical difficulties” at the facility during the dates requested. The party attached the correspondence to its statement.
“For us this is not just about one venue,” the UDP said. “It raises a broader issue about equal treatment, access to public facilities, and the conditions necessary for a free, fair, and credible electoral environment.”
The party argued that free and fair elections require more than voting, and must include equitable access to public spaces, information, and media. It also flagged what it called continued challenges for opposition parties in accessing public media platforms, specifically naming GRTS, where it said opposition parties must be afforded fair opportunities to communicate with the public.
“As the country moves toward the 2026 presidential election, we call on the Independent Electoral Commission, civil society organisations, media organisations, relevant authorities, and the general public to pay close attention to issues of equal access and equal treatment of political parties,” the UDP stated.
The party reaffirmed its commitment to peaceful, democratic, and constitutional politics, and said it will continue to raise concerns through lawful channels whenever principles of equality and fairness are at stake.
