By Peter Omopo
Security has been tightened across key parts of Abuja, with heavy deployment of operatives at the Eagle Square ahead of the national convention of the All Progressives Congress.
Armed personnel drawn from the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and other paramilitary agencies have taken strategic positions around the venue to maintain order during the two-day event scheduled for March 27 and 28.
Major access roads leading to Eagle Square were barricaded, resulting in traffic diversions and forcing many commuters to trek to their destinations as movement within the city became restricted.
The convention is expected to attract over 8,000 delegates from across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, 32 state governors, and top party officials billed to attend.
The APC leadership has indicated a preference for consensus arrangements in selecting party executives, a move aimed at promoting unity and internal discipline.
Ahead of the event, Dapo Abiodun, who chairs the Convention Venue Committee, inspected facilities at Eagle Square to assess the level of preparedness.
Also involved in overseeing arrangements, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, emphasised the need for coordination among stakeholders to ensure a smooth and successful convention.
He called on party members to maintain discipline in communication and execution, noting that collective sacrifice would be required to achieve the party’s objectives.
