What was meant to be a defining political gathering turned uncomfortable on Tuesday as delegates at the African Democratic Congress (ADC) convention in Abuja battled heat, headaches and exhaustion following a major failure of air conditioning systems at the venue.
The convention, holding at the Rainbow Event Centre, was thrown into disarray as non-functional cooling systems left the hall stuffy, forcing attendees to rely on handheld fans amid rising temperatures.
Chairman of the convention’s medical sub-committee, Benjamin Eze, confirmed that several delegates had already reported health complications linked to the poor ventilation.
“We are seeing cases of headaches, dizziness and exhaustion,” Eze disclosed, adding that a fully equipped ambulance and medical team had been placed on standby to respond to emergencies.
Despite the discomfort, the convention has drawn high-profile political figures, including Lauretta Onochie and Kenneth Okonkwo, who were among the early arrivals.
Also present at the venue are prominent political heavyweights such as Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, Aminu Tambuwal, and David Mark.
