According to a report by DAILY TRUST on Friday 27th March 2026; Tension and chaos marked the entrance to Eagle Square on Friday as delegates and journalists attempting to attend the 8th National Convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were blocked by security personnel, with some reportedly tear-gassed in the process.
Many journalists were left stranded outside after being denied accreditation tags, while delegates struggled to gain entry amid heightened security; Stern-looking operatives were deployed at strategic points around the venue, with police reportedly using tear gas to control the crowd when it became overwhelming.
Mallam Auwal Umar, a delegate, said that one colleague fainted after exposure to tear gas, highlighting the disorder at the entrance; Journalists also raised concerns, with one identifying herself as Seyi explaining that repeated efforts to obtain media tags from the APC Media and Publicity Committee were unsuccessful.
“The event should be accessible to accredited delegates and journalists; The arrangement is chaotic and poorly managed,” she said.
A security official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said only those with proper tags were allowed inside; On the use of tear gas, the official added, “Police deployed canisters when they felt overwhelmed by the crowd, as part of crowd control measures.”
The convention, which is expected to attract 8,453 delegates, aims to ratify the re-election of 30 members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC); Delegates and party leaders are awaiting the arrival of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is expected to formally declare the convention open.
As of 5:30 pm, many delegates and journalists were still outside, unable to gain access, reflecting ongoing organizational challenges.
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