APC Convention: Tragedy strikes, zonal chairman dies; Journalists manhandled; Delegates seek level playing field for all; Abuja agog

By Abdul Hassan/Bashir Rabe Mani/Emmanuel Mogbede/Angela Atabo /Joy Obanya

Abuja, June 7, 2022

Tragedy struck on Tuesday as the Zonal Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Jigawa Central, Alhaji Isa Burji, slumped and died at a hotel in Abuja.

The Chairman, APC Jigawa East, Alhaji Abdullahi Ango, revealed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), at Eagle Square, venue of the APC Special National Convention.

Ango said the deceased died at around 3.30 p.m., on Tuesday, few hours to the commencement of the convention.

He described the death as sudden, adding, “the deceased had his lunch and had performed his afternoon prayers.

“He had no known history of any ailment. He just slumped and died instantly.”

Ango also dismissed some social media reports that said the deceased died at Eagle Square.

Ango described the late Burji as a “good and honest person. He was the leader of the Jigawa delegation until he died.”

Meanwhile, most journalists, fully accredited to cover the ruling party’s convention, with their accreditation tags in full view, were not only refused entrance into the convention venue, but were tear-gassed and manhandled by security operatives.

Some of the journalists, including senior News Directors and Editors deployed to cover the convention lost their valuables in the process as the security operatives became violent.

It, however, took the intervention of Mr. Felix Morka, the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, who was called on phone by one of the accredited journalists, to address the situation.

Mr. Morka has since apologised to the journalists. “I am sorry about the incident involving the use of tear gas by the police at the Foreign Affairs Ministry Access Gate of Eagle Square. Some of our accredited journalists were affected.

“As soon as I was notified, I went there and helped to give access to all accredited journalists.

“I hope everyone is settled in now at the convention,” Morka said on the APC correspondents’ WhatsApp platform.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that party officials and some of the presidential aspirants had continued to arrive the convention venue.

Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi, one of APC presidential aspirants was seen going round various state pavilions waving at delegates to show appreciation for their support.

President Muhammadu Buhari and other critical stakeholders of the party as well as other presidential aspirants were as at the time of filing this report, being expected to arrive the convention venue.