Delegates and journalists were met with resistance at the entrance of Eagle Square, the venue of the APC's 8th National Convention. The scene was chaotic as security operatives, stationed at strategic locations, fired tear gas at those trying to gain entry. Many delegates and journalists were left stranded, unable to access the venue due to a lack of accreditation tags.
The situation has been described as a "poor arrangement" by some delegates and journalists who were unable to obtain the necessary tags from the party's Media and Publicity Committee. One delegate, Mallam Auwal Umar, reported that a colleague fainted after being hit by tear gas. The use of tear gas has been justified by a security official as a necessary measure to control the crowd.
As of 5:30 pm, many delegates were still waiting outside the venue, hoping to gain entry. The convention is expected to ratify the re-election of 30 members of the party's National Working Committee. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is expected to declare the convention open, but his arrival has been delayed.
The scenes at Eagle Square are a stark reminder of the APC's inability to manage its own events. The use of tear gas on delegates and journalists is a clear overreach of authority, and the party's Media and Publicity Committee must be held accountable for the poor arrangement of the convention. The fact that many delegates were still waiting outside the venue as of 5:30 pm is a testament to the party's lack of preparedness. The APC's focus on re-electing its National Working Committee members seems to have overshadowed the importance of ensuring a smooth convention process. This is a missed opportunity for the party to showcase its ability to manage complex events.
