During the opening ceremonies of the All Progressives Congress (APC) national caucus conference, which took place on Thursday night at the State House in Abuja, Nigeria’s former national hymn was briefly performed.
The strange incident happened just as the national anthem was about to be played and dignitaries were being led inside the villa’s banquet hall.
The band first sang an instrumental rendition of the old anthem, “Arise, O Compatriots,” in place of the recently reinstated anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee.”
Leaders such as Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Vice President Kashim Shettima, and President Bola Tinubu stood in mild confusion for a few seconds before the musicians realized their error and changed to the correct anthem halfway through the performance.
“Nigeria, We Hail Thee,” which was first approved upon independence in 1960 and used until 1988, was reintroduced as the national anthem after President Tinubu signed a bill to replace it on May 29.
At the caucus meeting, the song “Arise, O Compatriots,” which was in use from 1978 to early 2024, was briefly played incorrectly.
Nentawe Yilwatda, the national chairperson of the APC, presided over the inaugural caucus session.
Following their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC, governors Peter Mbah of Enugu, Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers, Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta, Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom, Agbu Kefas of Taraba, and Douye Diri of Bayelsa attended their first caucus meeting.
APC governors, key officers of the national parliament, members of the national working committee, and former vice president Yemi Osinbajo are among the other party heavyweights in attendance.
