Rwang Pam Township Stadium, the site of Tuesday’s rally for All Progressives Congress presidential candidate Bola Tinubu in Jos, Plateau State capital, was heavily guarded.
Soldiers, police officers, members of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, and members of the Federal Road Safety Corps were observed securing main routes leading into the arena.
As early as 9 a.m., local disc jockeys and drummers were spotted entertaining party supporters who marched into the stadium wearing colourful ‘aso ebi’ with the faces of APC presidential candidate Bola Tinubu and his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima.
An aso ebi is a uniform attire traditionally worn in Nigeria and some West African cultures as an indicator of cooperation and solidarity during ceremonies and festive periods.
Some members of the local organising committee were also spotted conducting a last minute inspection on the decoration of the venue.
The development is coming barely 24 hours after the National Broadcasting Commission slammed a N5m fine on Arise News and Channels Television for publicising a reportedly “fake” statement credited to the Independent National Electoral Commission.
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When contacted, the Director of Media and Publicity for the PCC, Bayo Onanuga, told our correspondent that the campaign in Jos would be a festival of sort being the official kick off of Tinubu’s first rally.
Onanuga also disclosed that the rally would be attended by virtually all members of the PCC, the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), members of the Progressive Governors Forum and the APC women campaign team
Reacting to the heavy presence of security operatives at the venue, Onanuga said “it is normal.”
He said, “The local organising committee is fully in charge. We are just going there as guests. In all our engagements so far, the committee in each state is always responsible for arrangements including security.
“Don’t forget, the president is coming too because this is the first rally we are having. But you are aware we have been campaigning before now. This is the very festival of the campaign.
“All of us in the PCC directorates are going there in our aso ebi including the women campaign team,” he said.
Onanuga also noted that the rally would be beamed live on major television and radio stations.
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