The All Progressive Congress, APC, convention holding Saturday at the Eagles Square in Abuja witnessed an unprecedented crowd at the convention ground leaving many with varying degree of injuries as the police struggle to maintain some semblance of order.
The convention was attended by thousands of party faithful from all over the country. Security agents had to resort to suing Teargas and Tasers to restore order.
Eyewitness reports reveal that no fewer than 26 people including a pregnant woman and an elderly man were injured.
Delegates had besieged the venue waiting for clearance when suddenly people broke free from the security, who were forced to retreat. The security agents drawn from men of the Department of State Security, the Nigerian Police Force, Nigerian Army and the civil defence regrouped and chased after the crowd with police dogs.
But as people began to besiege the gate waiting for clearance and complaining that they had spent over two hours on the queue, their patience waned and by 10:45am, scuffle and jostling began. The crowd became uncontrollable and as they wrestled to gain entry, people started falling over one another, while the policemen used teargas and beat people with their baton.
An elderly man of over 70 had his leg broken while a pregnant woman could be seen writhing in pains but was helped to her feet and taken away for medical attention.