With two days left to the much anticipated presidential primary of the All Progressive Congress, stern-looking security operatives have been detailed to the venue of the shadow poll.
The National Working Committee of the APC had announced that the popular Eagle Square in Abuja would play host to its two-day presidential convention, which was slated for Sunday, May 29.
Our correspondent paid an unannounced visit to the party’s proposed venue on Friday where he observed a team of soldiers and policemen patrolling the premises.
When he attempted to move further into the venue to investigate, he was accosted at the gate by one of the local security men.
The guard, who claimed that he has been ordered not to allow anybody access into the venue, confirmed that the uniformed men are having their routine drill ahead of Sunday’s convention.
From where he stood, our correspondent watched as the armed officers positioned themselves strategically at various entrances around the premises of the venue.
Few soldiers moved around the seats, some patrolled the car parks while others squatted under the massive structure of the over 2,500 capacity event centre.
Our correspondent also counted seven patrol vans and one armoured personnel carrier, which were stationed not too far from the access road leading to the venue.
According to the local guard, many officers in the security team were drawn from the anti-bomb squad of the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Department of State Security, among others.
However, with the six days extension of deadline for party primaries by the Independent National Electoral Commission, it is likely that the APC could postpone its convention again.
The list of the aspirants expected at the shadow poll are National Leader of the party, Senator Bola Tinubu; Vice President Yemi Osibanjo; former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; former Minister of Niger Delta Development, Sen. Godswill Akpabio; former Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu; former Ogun state governor, Sen. Ibikunle Amosu, among others
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