Abuja’s Central Area came to a standstill on Saturday as thousands of delegates and supporters poured into the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, convention, turning Ahmadu Bello Way and surrounding roads into a parking lot.
WItnesses said traffic stretched for kilometers, with motorists stranded for hours.
Adjoining roads and major intersections were overwhelmed as party faithful, guests, and political groups converged on the venue.
Traders quickly moved in, hawking food, drinks, and party merchandise on the road shoulders.
The crowd was heavy with symbolism.
Kwankwasiyya and Obidient supporters were out in force, chanting, dancing, and turning the convention grounds into a show of force for the emerging opposition bloc.
Security personnel were deployed to manage both the crowd and the gridlock.
Amid the chaos, the convention delivered a decisive political move: delegates unanimously adopted a resolution zoning the NDC’s 2027 presidential ticket to the South for a single four-year term.
The motion, moved by Rep. Afam Victor Ogene, passed without dissent. The deal guarantees the ticket returns to the North after 2031.
Party insiders say the resolution clears the path for Peter Obi and other southern aspirants to pursue the ticket, giving the NDC a clear southern anchor as opposition talks intensify ahead of 2027.
For motorists, it was a day of frustration. For the NDC, it was a show of numbers and a strategic bet that the crowd can be converted into votes.
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