The All Progressives Congress (APC) secretariat was turned into a battleground in the early hours of Monday, as policemen arrived in over five Hillux Patrol Vans to take control of the party’s headquarters.
The police force, which numbered over 30 officers, had deliberately positioned itself within the secretariat along Blantyre Street to avoid bothering passers-by and cars.
Our correspondent on the scene reports that the gun-wielding, battle-ready officers refused to let any vehicle park near the secretariat, even those belonging to the personnel, tourists, and journalists who arrived early.
Although the presence of the police brought back memories of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole’s dark days as the previous National Chairman of the APC National Working Committee (NWC), the difference is that they were not subjected to any excessive harassment by security officers.
In fact, as of 11 a.m., the normally bustling secretariat was still deserted, with many people, including personnel and visitors, fearful of the security services’ presence.
Our correspondent learned from one of the party secretariat’s security details that the security agents acted on a security report that some individuals had been mobilized to organize a demonstration at the party secretariat on Monday.
“You don’t expect the party’s national leadership to fold their hands in the face of such threatening security report. They don’t want to take chances or watch the situation degenerate to the days of Oshiomhole when activities in the party was grounded hence the decision to mobilise the security agencies to protect the secretariat against any attack,” the security personnel told our correspondent.
