By KINGSLEY OMONOBI, BEN AGANDE & HENRY UMORU

ABUJA—ABOUT 5,000 delegates from the 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory will converge on Eagle Square, Abuja, today, to determine the fate of presidential aspirants on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

17,000 officers and men of the Nigerian Police made up of regular, anti-riot and anti bomb units, have also been deployed to provide adequate security and ensure there is no security breach during the primaries.

The aspirants who were screened and cleared, Tuesday, by the Ambassador Aminu Wali-led Presidential Screening Committee and fighting to fly the flag of the party at the April Presidential election were President Goodluck Jonathan, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Mrs Sarah Jubril.

Answering questions from newsmen at the party’s National Secretariat, the National Organizing Secretary, Prince Uche Secondus said the PDP will adopt the open secret ballot system which has been in use by the party in the past.

He said the accreditation of delegates was supposed to be held simultaneously from 6 p.m at the International Conference Centre and the International Women Centre at the Abuja Central Business District.

Investigations, yesterday, revealed that hotels in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, and all its satellite towns have been fully booked by delegates and party members billed to attend the special convention.

ProfAdeniran leads electoral panel

The party has put up an electoral panel saddled with the responsibility of conducting today’s Presidential primaries with former Minister of Education, Professor Tunde Adeniran as the Chairman. Other members of the panel are Magnus Abbe, Mr. Emmanuel Ibeshi, Engr. Bassey Ekefre, Julius O. Ihonvbere, Barrister Sam Osasa, Chief Golden Bozimo and Sen. Gbenga Aluko.

Others are Otunba Omolade Oluwateru, Mrs. Bashirif Sabaloju, Mrs. Lola Otegbola, Chief Lanre Rasaki, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Sen. Fidelis Okoro, Dr. Ekuma Orji_uzor, Chief Okwudili Uzorka, Prof. Onyeoziri Fred, Dame Julie, Nwariaku, Dr. Dogara Mato, Aminu Labaran Baba.

Others include, Amb. Ibrahim Kazarue, Amb. Isa Mohammed Argungu, Hon. Salisu Yusuf Majigiri,  Bala Bello Maru, Arc. Philip Iorlyer,  Alhaji Huseni Akwanga, Senator Tunde Ogbeha, Senator Wash Pam, Alhaji Shaba Lafiagi, Engr. Mustapha Bello, Hajia Nana Abdul Quadri, Maj. Gen. Haladu Hanaiya (rtd, Ibrahim Umaru, Alh. Isa Tafida Mafindi, Ambassador Mohammed Adamu Jumba, Alhaji Alhassan Giadam;Arc. Ibrahim Bunu Otunba Funsho Owoyemi, Alhaji Bello Alkali and Mallam Abba Dabo.

17,000 policemen deployed

The Nigeria Police Force said yesterday that 17, 000 officers and men would be deployed to provide adequate security and ensure there was no securitybreach during the primaries.

The disclosure came just as the Inspector General of Police, Hafiz Abubakar Ringim, stated that all delegates to the primaries would be screened and searched by Police bomb experts to ensure that no arms or dangerous instruments were taken into the venue.

The IG explained that as a result of the primaries, there will be a security cordon around greater Abuja city while the Abuja ring road will be flooded by anti-terrorism and anti-bomb personnel.

He said: “We will stop any suspected vehicle we feel may have suspect motives and search. The situation may inconvenience people particularly those living in Abuja, but it is important such measures are taken to trouble makers or those with sinister motives.

“Henceforth, we have beefed up security around Eagle Square. We will evacuate all vehicles within the vicinity of Eagle Square and for the event proper, no vehicle will be allowed to move within the complex. Arms and ammunition will not be allowed near or within the complex too.”

Reminded that the security measures being put in place may ground all Abuja’s activities for the day, Ringim said: “No security measure for tomorrow’s event would be too much especially if you recall the bombings of October 1, 2010 and the Mogadishu Cantonment bomb blast on New Year’s Eve.”

On whether the Police can cope with the magnitude of problems envisaged in the 2011 general elections considering that Delta State election took over 25,000 to control, the IG said: “I want to assure Nigerians that the Police as well as other security agencies will do the job creditably”.

“By the time we go for the general elections, the amount of hooligans’ and gangsters will be spread round and this will enable us checkmate them properly because what happened in Delta was that they all converged there”.

“So come 2011 general elections, we will have enough manpower and be mindful of the fact that other security agencies like the Civil Defence, Road safety, Immigrations etc will the there with us. We are warning members of the public to be alert. They should report all suspicious baggage. We want everybody to be their brothers’ keeper. Security issues are not that of the police alone. Everybody has to be involved.”

INEC monitors  primaries

A high powered team led by the national commissioner in charge of Political Party Monitoring of the Independent National Electoral Commission is to monitor today’s presidential primaries of the PDP. A source at the commission’s headquarters informed Vanguard yesterday that the team will closely follow the activities at the convention ground to ensure that there is strict adherence to the Electoral Act 2010.

The Director of Public Affairs of the Independent National electoral commission, Mr. Emmanuel Umenger who confirmed that the team would be led by a national commissioner said it is a tradition in the commission for Commissioner to lead a team of monitors at presidential primaries.

A source at the commission informed Vanguard that the commission is taking the PDP primaries very serious as the success or otherwise of the exercise is capable of having ripple effects on other smaller parties.