Governor Mohammed Badaru Abubakar-led National Convention Committee (NCC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Thursday paid an inspection visit to Eagle Square, Abuja, the venue of Saturday’s elective convention.
Workers were seeing decorating the venue with various beautification objects that depicted the colours of the ruling party.
The convention stage and ballot boxes stands were being erected when the NCC team were seen moving around. Workers were also busy cleaning delegates and VIP sections at Eagle Square.
Security personnel from various agencies, including the Nigeria Police, the Nigeria Security Civil Defence Corps, manned various locations at the venue. The security had been beefed up ahead of the convention which is expected to host about 6,800 delegates from the 36 states of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), who will decide the fate of the contestants for the various offices.
The Chairman of the NCC Media sub-committee and governor of Oyo State, Abiola Ajimobi, told journalists, during the inspection that some aspirants might drop from the race before the convention.
Ajimobi said, "We are very happy about all the preparations, everything is in place, you can see what we call a very professional arrangement.
“Politics is about conflict and resolution and today we are meeting many of the aspirants, we look at them, we interview them and then there will be give-and-take so that it’ll be a smooth operation on Saturday."
Ahmed Yarima, the chairman of the Accreditation sub-committee, said that there would be a thorough screening and accreditation of the delegates.
Yarima said, “There is no just one card, there is something that you present at the gate to be checked on the list because we are not having opportunity to put photographs of delegates but at least we are going to put numbering and security code so that as soon as you come to the gate you are properly identified, screened and then you enter.
“Even to vote inside, you also have another card that you present before you can be allowed to vote."