No less than 7, 500 delegates are expected at the national convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) which holds today at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.

Apart from ratifying some of the cogent decisions taken by party leaders in recent times, the delegates are expected to elect the party’s candidate for next year’s presidential election.

Many an analyst regards today’s presidential primaries as a straight battle between former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, both Hausa-Fulani, perennial presidential contenders with some of the most widespread political structure in the country.

Atiku has always situated his ambition to be Nigeria’s number one citizen on the need to further fix the country, while Buhari regards his planned return to power as necessary for intervention in all the sectors, especially in public utilities and those concerned with deteriorating infrastructure.

Though the images of Atiku and Buhari may loom large, there is no underrating the younger aspirants like Governors Rabiu Kwankwaso and Rochas Okorocha, respectively of Kano and Imo states, as well as Sam Nda-Isaiah the publisher of Leadership newspapers.

There is a viewpoint that a younger contender like Kwankwaso would prove more effective in ensuring that President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) does not return to the saddle in May 2015.

Kwankwaso told journalists last night that he is the most qualified to bear the flag of the APC. He said given his background as a civil servant, a two-time governor, a former House of Representatives member and former Defence Minister, it will be wise for delegates to queue behind him because he stands a better chance to turn the country around.

“I am very much confident that the delegates will do the right thing tomorrow and the right thing is to vote Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, who has all the credentials, who has all it takes to make Nigeria a better for all of us.

Before now, the Buhari camp has always made case for a consensus candidate, to avoid a primary election that may lead to breakup of the party.

Atiku earnestly opposed the idea of a consensus candidate for a primary, arguing that there can be no greater consensus than that made by delegates through their votes.

For reasons known to him, Atiku has always been upbeat about defeating Buhari in an open contest.

Buhari too is sure of victory partly because of some APC governors who have given him their words, the backing of the National Executive Committee (NEC) which is, understandably, aligned in this contest and the role history has cast on strongman of South West politics, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu who is also in his natural habitat in Lagos.

On the choice of Lagos as venue of the convention, National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has this to say: “It is not correct that every party should have their national convention in Abuja, to the best of my knowledge, PDP had its first convention in Jos. We have had convention in Benin, we would have love to have our convention in Abuja,

but PDP would be having their convention the same time, INEC will not allow two major parties to have their convention the same day at the same place, and of course we chose Lagos after Abuja was ruled out, the stadium can take up to 8,000 delegates.” he said.

The Atiku group said they have no objection to the Lagos venue.

To outwit the Buhari-Tinubu caucus, however, Atiku would be accommodating over 4, 000 delegates in Sheraton and other hotels, according to feelers.

The APC national leadership led by Chief John Odigie-Oyegun have resolved that today’s voting will be though the Modified Open Ballot.

In adherence to the APC convention, only elected party officials, elected public office holders, Local Government Chairmen and above are eligible to vote today.

Late on Sunday, Atiku and his followers entered into negotiation with Bukola Saraki and delegates from Kwara State. But it appears the negotiation fell through as the former Kwara State governor has been more interested in picking the APC ticket for Kwara Central senatorial district.

Atiku’s supporters have made capital of the case of Lagos State where council chairmen are appointed, not elected, where there are 52 functional councils against the 20 LGAs listed in the First Schedule to the Constitution.

Last night, the Lagos State Police Command said it has deployed enough policemen to provide adequate security at the convention.

The State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) offered: “We have enough men on ground who are adequately kitted for the primary. We know the responsibility for the process to be credible is rested on us and we are aware of it.

“We know tomorrow’s election will be a bigger one and we expect more people to come into the state. The Commissioner of Police, Mr Kayode Aderanti, was around yesterday to see things for himself and he will be moving around today to monitor the situation again.

“Arrangements have been put in place like traffic control, security, surveillance, sniffer dogs and every other thing needed to ensure a hitch-free convention.

“We are deploying our full arsenal to make sure that the election is credible,’’ he said.

The Lagos State government also announced the diversion of traffic ahead of the convention, as part of the surveillance and security measure.

According to a release from the office of the Transportation Commissioner, Kayode Opeifa, vehicular movement around the venue would be affected and congestion expected, especially along Funso Williams and Western Avenue Surulere, Yaba, Alhaji Masha and Costain areas.

Vehicles from Lagos Island to Surulere will be directed to exit at Costain to link Surulere through Eric Moore.

•Credit: Newswatch Times. Photo shows APC presidential canditates (R-L) Buhari, Atiku, Okorocha and Ndah-Isaiah.

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