Chaos at Transcorp Hilton as APC Media Accreditation Team Withholds Journalists’ Tags
Oru Leonard
Tension flared at the prestigious Transcorp Hilton Abuja on Friday as journalists covering the upcoming convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC), protested the alleged hoarding and delayed distribution of accreditation tags by the party’s media accreditation team.
Dozens of media practitioners from various media outlets were left stranded for hours at the accreditation centre within the hotel premises, expressing frustration over what they described as a lack of transparency and poor coordination. Many journalists claimed they had completed all necessary registration procedures well ahead of the event but were denied access tags without clear explanations.
Eyewitnesses reported heated exchanges between members of the accreditation team and journalists, with some accusing officials of selectively issuing tags while others were ignored. The situation reportedly created confusion and disrupted preparations for coverage of the party’s 8th National Convention scheduled to hold at Eagle Square.
“We have done everything required, yet we are being treated unfairly,” one aggrieved journalist said. “This process lacks professionalism and is hindering our ability to do our job.”
Security personnel were deployex to maintain order as the crowd of journalists swelled.
Despite attempts to calm the situation, many media representatives continued to demand immediate intervention from senior APC officials.
As of the time of filing this report, there had been no official statement from the APC media committee addressing the allegations. However, sources within the party hinted that efforts were underway to resolve the issue and ensure that all duly accredited journalists receive their tags before the commencement of the convention.
The incident has raised concerns about media access and the party’s preparedness to manage a major national emergency
to attract thousands of delegates, stakeholders, and observers from across Nigeria and beyond.
