PDP Presidential Primaries: Police To Deploy Anti-Terrorist Squad

Delegate lobbying shifts to hotels || Aminu Wali chairs screening Panel || Determined to ensure security in Abuja as the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) holds its special national convention, the Nigeria Police Force will deploy its anti-terrorist squad to the Eagle Square, venue of the convention where the party’s presidential candidate for this April poll will emerge.

The build-up to the presidential primaries, LEADERSHIP SUNDAY checks revealed, have reached a dizzying height, with President Goodluck Jonathan and former vice-president Atiku Abubakar as the major contenders.

Besides the security alert, LEADERSHIP SUNDAY checks in hotels in the Federal Capital Territory also revealed that all accommodation have been booked in advance by aides to the two contestants. President Jonathan’s aides are believed to have booked more reservations.

The Federal Capital Territory chapter of the Nigeria Police, it was also learnt, would be beefed up by officers to be drawn from different states surrounding the FCT. It was learnt that the officers have arrived the territory’s command and are awaiting instructions on operation modalities for the congress which is scheduled to take place on Thursday.

The police public relations officer, Mr. Jimoh Moshood, who confirmed that the officers were drawn from other states to complement officers and men of the command, however, could not give the number of those to be deployed for the event. According to him, it is rather early to determine the number of policemen that would be deployed for the PDP congress, as most of the officers of the command have been deployed for other political activities.

The spokesperson, however, said that the operation modality which is already on ground would be made known to the police hierarchy in the command at its weekly briefing by the commissioner of police, Mr. Haruna John, tomorrow.

The number of officers to be deployed as well as routes through which traffic may be diverted would also be disclosed at the briefing, Moshood said. He explained that the FCT police was routinely sweeping major facilities and structures in the territory, including hotels, not just for the rally but to ensure the security of life and property of both residents and visitors to the FCT before, during and after the elections.

With only four days to the PDP convention, all the hotels in the FCT have been fully booked as the fight for the hearts of the delegates has shifted to hotel rooms. Contrary to earlier reports that Atiku’s camp had played a fast one by booking virtually all the choice hotels in Abuja in preparation for the primaries, checks revealed otherwise. Jonathan’s camp, LEADERSHIP SUNDAY investigations exclusively revealed, has commandeered virtually all the decent hotels and gone ahead to secure reservations in the hotels – all within convenient proximity to the Eagle Square, venue of the presidential primaries.

A visit to Abuja Sheraton Hotel confirmed the plot. A senior reservation officer on night duty who pleaded to be anonymous said, “I can’t tell you much, but a protocol officer was here from The Presidency and booked all the available rooms. The only rooms available are the ones that have been previously booked. Management has instructed us to stop any other reservation that does not come from the aide. The protocol is still insisting on reserving more rooms.”

From the Abuja Sheraton, Transcorp Hilton to Nanet suites and Nicon Luxury, our checks revealed that, in terms of accommodation arrangement, Jonathan’s plans for delegates remain without a crack. “The man who came here to reserve the hotel rooms was very particular on the catering and other sundry hospitality arrangement. These guys are sparing nothing to spoil these visiting delegates. He told me emphatically that money was not an issue,” a source at Nanet Suites said.

Other lower-class hotels are also benefiting from the unprecedented patronage.

Delegates are the major deciding factors in terms of party primaries – at least when it comes to choosing candidates. They have come under stiff criticism for selling their votes to candidates offering the largest sums. Politicians are similarly willing to suborn delegates to tilt their votes in their favour.

Before now, the talk was rife that Atiku’s camp had booked all the hotels, allegedly prompting The Presidency to instruct FCT minister Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed to investigate the scheme.

Checks also revealed that many hotels in neighbouring states like Nasarawa, Kogi and Niger states have been fully booked ahead of the primaries.

Persons expected at the convention as delegates include the national chairman of the party, members of the National Executive Committee (NEC), members of the Zonal Working Committee, and state party chairmen and secretaries including those of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja.

Other delegates are all women and youth leaders, including those of the FCT; all party chairmen of the local government areas, and one national delegate elected from the local government area congress.

Meanwhile, the National Working Committee of the party last night named former ambassador Aminu Wali as the chairman of its Presidential Screening Panel.

Also, the party in a statement signed by the National Organising Secretary, Prince Uche Secondus named former Defence Minister, Alhaji Shettima Mustapha as the chairman of its Special National convention panel.

Both panels, according to the statement would be inaugurated on Monday by the national chairman, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo in Abuja.

The 10 –member Presidential Screening Panel has Mr. Sylvester Okonkwo as the secretary, while former Transport minister and one-time national secretary of the party, Chief Ojo Maduekwe will serve as the secretary of the special national convention panel.

-Punchwp_posts