There was tight security around the All Progressives Congress (APC) secretariat in Ogba, Ikeja, early Thursday as electoral officers and materials were deployed for the party’s governorship primary election.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that personnel of the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), alongside other security operatives, mounted surveillance around the secretariat.
A significant number of security vehicles carrying armed personnel were strategically positioned around the area as sensitive and non-sensitive materials were moved out of the party office.
Vehicles conveying ballot papers, result sheets and electoral officers to various local government areas and voting centres across the state were observed leaving the secretariat.
Party officials and electoral officers had arrived at the secretariat as early as 6:00 a.m. for sorting and distribution of election materials ahead of the exercise.
Speaking with NAN, Chairman of the Media and Publicity Committee of the APC Primaries Local Organising Committee, Sesan Daini, said the party had improved logistics to ensure a smooth exercise.
He said early deployment was aimed at avoiding delays at various voting centres, adding that lessons from previous primaries had informed the improved preparation.
“We have learnt a lot in the course of these primaries. That is why we deployed early today to avoid delays at the various centres,” he said.
According to him, the party expects electoral officers to complete the exercise early and ensure timely declaration of results across the state.
“We want our election officers to go and return early. We want to ensure the winner emerges today and is declared today,” he said.
Daini expressed optimism that the governorship primary would be peaceful, noting that the party had adopted a consensus candidate.
He added that the expectation of a smooth exercise was based on the assumption that members would conduct themselves responsibly.
He further disclosed that some electoral officers had already arrived at their assigned locations ahead of voting activities.
