Tension erupted in Abuja on Friday as journalists scrambled for accreditation ahead of the convention of the All Progressives Congress. The situation created a chaotic scene at the Transcorp Hilton Abuja, where the event accreditation process was being conducted.
The incident took place at the Kano Hall of the venue, as over 100 journalists, including both accredited and non accredited personnel, surged forward in a desperate attempt to secure tags that would grant them access to cover the high profile political gathering.
Trouble reportedly started earlier in the day when the official in charge of distributing accreditation tags announced that only a limited number were available. According to the coordinator, most of the tags reserved for party correspondents had already been issued, leaving only a handful for other media professionals.
This announcement sparked immediate outrage among journalists present, many of whom criticized the process as disorganized and lacking transparency. The frustration quickly escalated into heated arguments, with several reporters insisting they had been unfairly excluded despite arriving early for the exercise.
As tensions rose, the atmosphere became increasingly volatile, prompting the deployment of personnel from the Nigeria Police Force to restore order and prevent further disruption. Their presence helped to calm the situation, although discontent among journalists persisted.
The development has since drawn criticism from members of the media, who are calling on APC organizers to improve coordination and ensure a more transparent accreditation process in future events. Many stressed the importance of proper planning, especially for major political gatherings that attract widespread media attention.
As of the time of filing this report, officials of the All Progressives Congress have not released any formal statement addressing the incident or the concerns raised by affected journalists.
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