Soldiers, police officers take over party secretariat

Stern looking soldiers and police officers have cordoned off the entire stretch of Blantryre Street in Abuja; where the national secretariat of the APC is perched.

The APC is Nigeria's governing party. It sacked the PDP from the center in March 2015.

The APC is holding its National Economic Committee (NEC) meeting at the time of filing this.

Punch reports that as "early as 6:00 am on Tuesday, truckloads of armed soldiers and policemen set up security checkpoints at the entrance and exit of Blantyre Street".

President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and the 24 State Governors elected on the platform of the APC, are expected at the party secretariat for the NEC meeting.

The NEC meeting is expected to consolidate APC strategies ahead of another election battle in 2019.

'Prepare for 2019'

On Monday, February 26, 2018, President Buhari who is leader of the APC, asked party faithful to begin preparing for the 2019 electionsat a meeting held at the presidential villa.

“Now that INEC has come out with the timetable for elections in 2019, the party should prepare itself for congresses at A. Wards, B. Local Governments, C. States and D. Centre.

“We should strictly follow the constitution of the Party in undertaking these party elections. We should ensure internal democracy and avoid shortcuts and illegal maneuvers which have characterized the opposition party with the consequences that they are now divided.

“The APC has a history of conducting free and fair primaries whenever consensus about any candidacy is not reached. Regardless of the outcomes of the primary processes, it is imperative that we all work together to ensure the victory of our party,” Buhari had said.

There are growing insinuations in most quartersthat Buhari will seek re-election in 2019.