Barely 24 hours after the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, publicly commended the ongoing sale of the party’s Expression of Interest and Nomination forms as smooth and transparent, confusion erupted on Thursday at the Abuja Continental Hotel, venue of the exercise, as the management allegedly locked out party officials over unpaid bills.

The development caused disruption at the venue as aspirants, supporters and party officials arriving for the exercise met the entrance to the ballroom under lock and key.

According to sources, the hotel management prevented access to the hall being used for the sale of forms, insisting that outstanding payments must first be settled before activities could continue.

The situation reportedly escalated when the hotel’s main gate was also shut, creating tension and confusion around the premises as party members and supporters struggled to gain entry.

In the ensuing commotion, a crowd of aggrieved persons allegedly forced the gate open to gain access into the facility.

The incident comes less than a day after Yilwatda inspected the sales process and praised the conduct of the exercise, describing the APC as “one of the most democratic political parties in Nigeria.”