The Department of State Services (DSS) and personnel of the Nigerian Police Force have manned the Rainbow Event Centre, the venue of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) national convention, being held in Abuja.
According to newsmen, the security personnel are conducting thorough security checks on delegates before allowing them access.
3,000 delegates are expected to participate in the election of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) to pilot the affairs of the party for the next four years.
Security patrol vehicles were also stationed at strategic locations, manned by security operatives.
Journalists were also subjected to serious and thorough security checks before being allowed access to the venue.
Meanwhile, a member of the ADC Convention Planning Committee, Dino Melaye, has insisted that no force can stop the party from holding its national convention.
Melaye said the party had a valid contract and had fully paid for the venue where the event was scheduled to take place.
The former senator spoke on Tuesday during an appearance on Arise Television’s Morning Show amid reports that the party was facing difficulties securing a venue for the convention.
According to him, attempts were made to prevent the event from holding, including efforts to shut the venue’s gates and force organisers to vacate the premises.
Melaye said the planning committee resisted the move, insisting that the party had fulfilled all contractual obligations to the facility owners.
He said, “I have that information as a member of the planning committee and the chairman of the protocol committee, and not only we were even asked to leave yesterday, they wanted to shut the gates.
“But we insisted and said we are not going to leave because we have a contract duly signed with this place, and we paid fully.”
Melaye added that the party possessed receipts and other documents proving that the venue had been duly secured.
He further stated, “We have receipt of payments. We have duly signed contracts. The most important thing is that, at the end of the day, we are here and hold our convention here.
“Nobody will stop us. After a contract, a proper contract, with the owners of this place, and after payment and receipt issued, no battalion would have moved us away from here today.”
Melaye also expressed confidence in the growing influence of the ADC, saying the party was determined to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress.
“So convention is going to hold. The exercise will hold. ADC is entrenched, and we are kicking out APC,” he added.