Police, DSS take over APC National Secretariat in Abuja over planned protest

Obiora Ifoh, Abuja

The Secretary, All Progressives Congress, APC Caretaker and Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, Senator John Akpanudodehe has said the party headquarters at the Blantyre Street is safe and that the security beef up at the secretariat was purely a precautionary security measure.

Dozens of armed policemen in four patrol vans had Wednesday, took over the entry and exit points on Blantyre Street where the party Secretariat is located in Abuja.

It was gathered that the policemen who were complimented by officers of the Department of State Service, are at the location to forestall a possible breakdown of law and order over a planned protest by party members.

However, Senator Akpanudoedehe in a response to media inquiry said, “Oh, nothing is happening. They have been there several times whenever we need to safeguard the Secretariat.

“You are not in position to read security reports, so you cannot ask me. If something happens now, they will say what were they doing. There are so many things that have to do with security that you are not aware of. It’s a routine thing, the police liaise with FCT minister, the IG and other people if they have any information.

“Not only here, if you are coming to Abuja, going to airport, we have the duty to protect the people who work here, we read security reports and I’m sure you are fully aware we have every security agency in our Secretariat. We are only acting on security reports, there is no cause for alarm.”

At source at the secretariat however told our correspondent that the security officials mobilised in response to security reports about a planned protest by members of the APC against the party’s leadership over the conduct of the recently conducted Ward, local government and state congresses.