Watch Moment Old National Anthem Mistakenly Played At APC National Caucus Meeting [VIDEO]
Nigeria’s old national anthem was briefly played during the opening formalities of the All Progressives Congress (APC) national caucus meeting held at the State House, Abuja, on Thursday night.
The unusual incident occurred as dignitaries were ushered into the villa’s banquet hall and the national anthem was about to be rendered.
Instead of the newly reinstated anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee,” the band initially played an instrumental version of the former anthem, “Arise, O Compatriots.”
President Bola Tinubu, Vice‑President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, among other leaders, stood in mild confusion for a few seconds before the musicians realised the mistake and switched to the correct anthem midway through the rendition.
On May 29, President Tinubu signed a bill replacing the national anthem, reintroducing “Nigeria, We Hail Thee,” which was originally adopted at independence in 1960 and used until 1988.
The version in place from 1978 to early 2024, titled “Arise, O Compatriots,” was momentarily played in error at the caucus meeting.
The APC caucus session was the first to be presided over by Nentawe Yilwatda, the party’s national chairman.
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 of the ruling party following their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC.
Other party leaders present include former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, members of the national working committee, APC governors, and principal officers of the national assembly.
Watch the video below:
