APC Convention: Abuja agog as delegates flood venue; Security tight; Supporters of presidential aspirants take over arena; Bottled water goes for N300

By Angela Atabo/Bashir Rabe Mani

Abuja, March 26, 2022

Delegates have flooded the Eagle Square, venue of the All Progressives Congress (APC) national convention amidst tight security.

Some of delegates who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) expressed hope that the convention would go well and that their preferred candidates would emerge victorious at the end of the convention.

Mrs Ibidun Abiola, a delegate from Kogi State, who said that she arrived Abuja very early to participate in the convention, however said it was stressful getting into the venue due to strict security checks.

“I am here to support my party and hope that all my favourite candidates win.

“I must confess that getting into the venue was not easy as the security men were diligent in their duty,” she said.

Mr Abang John, a delegate from Cross River, said the convention would mark the beginning of APC’s victory ahead of the 2023 general elections.

“The convention is finally here and I am glad it is holding. APC will get it right and it will lay the foundation for victory in the 2023 elections,“ he stated.

Mallam Ibrahim Musa from Kano State said APC made a great move by holding the convention.

“This will remain memorable to the party because it will be the decider for 2023.

“I urge delegates to make the right choice of who the leaders of the party will be in order to be led into victory in 2022,” said Musa.

NAN reports that the governors of Kogi and Nasarawa States are among some other dignitaries that arrived early at the venue of the convention.

Also, hawkers of consumable items and other souvenirs are having a field day, making brisk sales at the venue with the price of items, especially bottled water hitting the roof tops. The price of bottled water rose dramatically from N100 to N300 due to high demand at the Convention venue.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a bottle of water, which was sold at between N100 and N200 in the morning, rose to N300 in the afternoon.

Some sellers interviewed blamed the increase in price on scarcity.

“I came here with a truck load of water in the morning, but it has all been sold. I tried to get another truck but the road is already blocked by security agents for security reasons, that is why the price is high,” Mrs Gladys Idahor, a seller said.

Mr John Dyegh, another seller corrected the claim, alleging that he had to tip some policemen before he could get another supply in.

“Naturally, we have to build in the additional cost, so that is why the price is higher,” Dyegh said.

He said he had recorded high sales at the convention.

NAN also reports that some local musicians and praise singers were taking advantage of the convention to make money.

The musicians and praise singers in groups were seen moving from one state pavilion to another entertaining guests. 

Another report says that traders have taken over all the roads leading to Eagle Square.

A Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), covering the event reports that the traders came from within FCT Abuja and other parts of the country.

It was observed that the traders were making brisk businesses in various wares like clothing materials, sachet and bottled water, food items, foot wears and other consumables.

Traders of various APC branded shirts, caps, flags and other party apparels were also sighted making high sales.

A food vendor, Halima Salisu told NAN: “We are here to show our support to the APC, as well as make some money from the sale of our food.

“The market has been moving on fine, and so far, so good.”

A dealer of some clothing materials, Ilyasu Ibrahim, expressed delight that the event had provided them with a ”booming market.”

Hayatu Dallatu, a patron of one of the mobile restaurants near the Union Bank, commended the traders for coming to the rescue of the delegates, party supporters and the retinue of security agents at the venue.

NAN also observed the presence of operatives of various security agencies at the venue like the police, SSS, police bomb disposal units, NSCDC, and military, among others.

There were also various emergency services being provided at the venue like first aid and ambulance services.

Personnel of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), were also seen manning the various roads and intersections around the venue.

NAN also reports that pickpockets and other hoodlums had infiltrated the Eagle square and its environs.

A truck loaded with some of them, who were apprehended by the police and NSCDC operatives, was seen being driven out of the venue through the presidential gate.

Some of the pickpockets, operating in a syndicate were snatching peoples mobile phones and money, especially at the entrance gate.

A security agent who spoke to a NAN correspondent about three of the arrested pickpockets said “They took advantage of the mad rush by delegates at the gate to snatch phones and money.

“What happened was that they didn’t know that we have stationed eagle-eyed policemen at the gate watching as delegates entered the venue.

“So that was exactly what happened, our officers caught them in action after they had snatched individuals’ mobile  phones, ” he said.

The officer said that the suspects were being taken to the police headquarters for further investigation.

A cross section of the delegates and party supporters interviewed by NAN expressed satisfaction with the security arrangements put in place at the venue.

“We are really optimistic that the APC National convention would be a huge success and at the end, the best will be victorious.”