Delegates from various state chapters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have begun arriving at the Eagle Square convention venue for the party's eighth elective national convention. The event is being held amidst a heavy presence of party stalwarts, members, and supporters, all dressed in their colorful party outfits. A total of 32 state governors and 8,453 delegates from across the 36 states of the federation and the FCT are expected to attend the convention, where they will elect new members of the National Working Committee (NWC). The convention's theme is "Unity in Progress: Consolidating the Renewed Hope Agenda." Security has been tightened around the Three Arms Zone, with personnel from the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and Department of State Services (DSS) conducting thorough screenings of delegates and attendees.
Security personnel are stationed at intervals around the area, and major roads leading to the venue are being manned. Delegates are being subjected to thorough screening before being allowed access to the main venue. The restriction of both human and vehicular movements is in line with a circular issued by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Wilson-Jack.
The APC's national convention is a critical moment for the party, and the presence of President Bola Tinubu, Vice-President Kashim Shettima, and 32 state governors underscores its importance. However, the exercise has been marred by reports of court cases instituted by aggrieved party members to stop the convention. Despite these challenges, the party's assurance of adequate security for all participants is reassuring. The real test will be the party's ability to produce a new NWC that will steer its affairs for the next four years. The convention's outcome will have significant implications for the party's future and the country at large.
