There is more security around and inside the Rainbow Event Center, which is where the African Democratic Congress (ADC) national convention is taking place in Abuja.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), 3,000 delegates were expected to vote for the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), which will run the party for the next four years.
NAN also says that police and Department of State Services (DSS) officers were stationed at the main entrance to the event and checked delegates’ bags and other items before letting them in.
There were security patrol vehicles at key locations with security personnel on duty.
Before journalists were allowed into the venue, they also had to go through very thorough and serious security checks.
The party had been in a leadership crisis because two groups were fighting for control of the ADC.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) stopped recognizing all of the ADC’s leadership factions after the court of appeal’s decision and the ongoing legal battle over party leadership.
Senator Dino Melaye spoke at the convention site and said that it would go on as planned, even though people were trying to stop it.
“Yesterday, people tried on purpose to stop us from having this convention. None of the places we applied to were approved.
“At 11 p.m. last night, the owners of this venue tried to cancel this program, but we stood our ground and will go ahead with the convention today.”
Mr. Kabiru Saje, who is on the New Media committee, also said that the convention was meant to either choose new leaders or confirm the leaders who are already in charge.
“Even though the authorities tried to stop the program last night, we stood our ground because it is our right to hold this convention.
“Even though we had trouble finding a place to hold the event and had to move it several times, everything is now ready and the event will go on as planned.”
“The convention should start by 11 a.m., and the mood is good, with delegates arriving and everything in order.”
Saje said that the party still had faith in its leaders, who he said were experienced, strategic, and dedicated to making things better (NAN).
