7,000 delegates for APC convention

Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State says all necessary arrangements have been made to ensure the security of about 7,000 delegates from across the country who will attend today’s National Convention of ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Shettima, the vice chairman of the Convention Planning Committee, disclosed this yesterday in Abuja at the APC National Secretariat where he addressed journalists on behalf of the chairman, Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State.

The governor said the convention scheduled for the Eagle Square, Abuja, would commence by 2:00p.m.

He said delegates to the convention comprised three elected delegates from each of the 774 local government areas, including the statutory delegates.

“We moved the convention time from 9:00a.m to 2:00p.m deliberately to accommodate delegates that are coming from far and near. Incidentally, people from Kogi for instance, can leave and be in Abuja within three hours. But believe me, all our delegates will be on ground by 2:00 pm,” he said.

Shettima said the nomination and ratification of the candidacy of President Muhammadu Buhari at today’s convention was a commitment to steady, progressive and positive change.

“The convention is a special convention for the emergence of our presidential flag bearer, no any other issue will be tabled beyond issues pertaining to the emergence of our presidential flag bearer. In subsequent conventions, and NWC and NEC meeting, others issues can be discussed and sorted out.

“The votes the president got during the direct primary will be revealed at the convention,” the governor said.

Shettima said the security committee was working closely with security agencies to provide a robust security platform to make delegates feel comfortable and secure during the convention.

On the raging controversy over the primaries in some states, he said, “Despite some of the problems we have encountered during the primaries in our various states, the NWC of the party is working assiduously to resolve all the issues. It is a family quarrel, and we’re going to sort things out amicably.

“The party is doing and will continue to do all it can to resolve all the issues amicably so that everyone can be carried along and we can all unite as one in order to ensure that President Buhari is returned to the poll come February 2019,” he said.