An unexpected moment briefly interrupted proceedings at the All Progressives Congress (APC) national caucus meeting held Thursday night at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, when the wrong national anthem was played during the opening ceremony.

As top party leaders and government officials filed into the banquet hall at the State House, the military band struck up an instrumental rendition of “Arise, O Compatriots,” Nigeria’s former national anthem. The tune caused brief uncertainty among those present, as the country had officially reverted to “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” earlier this year.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice-President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas were among the dignitaries who stood momentarily puzzled before the musicians noticed the error. The band quickly corrected itself, switching to the reinstated anthem midway through the performance.

President Tinubu signed the bill restoring “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” on May 29, officially replacing “Arise, O Compatriots,” which had been in use from 1978 until early 2024. The former anthem was originally adopted at independence in 1960 and remained in place until 1988.

Thursday’s caucus meeting also marked a milestone for the ruling party, as it was the first session chaired by APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda. The gathering further welcomed several governors attending their first caucus meeting since defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC. They included 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.

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Other prominent figures in attendance were former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, members of the APC National Working Committee, party governors, and principal officers of the National Assembly.

Despite the brief anthem mix-up, the meeting proceeded without further incident.