By ADEYEMI ADELEYE

There was tight security around the All Progressives Congress (APC) secretariat in Ogba, Ikeja, early Thursday as electoral officers and materials were deployed for the party’s governorship primary election.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that police officers, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) personnel and other security operatives mounted surveillance around the secretariat.

A good number of security vehicles with fully armed personnel were strategically positioned around the Secretariat as materials and personnel moved out of the party office.

Vehicles conveying ballot papers, result sheets and electoral officers to various local government areas to various voting centres in the state were seen leaving the secretariat.

Party officials and electoral officers arrived at the secretariat as early as 6:00 a.m. for sorting and distribution of sensitive and non-sensitive election materials.

Speaking with the NAN, Mr Sesan Daini, Chairman, Media and Publicity Committee of the APC Primaries Local Organising Committee, said the party had improved logistics to ensure a smooth exercise.

“We have learnt a lot in the course of these primaries. That is why we deployed early today to avoid delays at the various centres,” Daini said.

According to him, the party wants electoral officers to conclude the exercise early and ensure timely declaration of results across the state.

“We want our election officers to go and return early. We want to ensure the winner emerges today and is declared today,” he said.

Daini expressed optimism that the governorship primary would be peaceful, noting that the APC had adopted a consensus candidate for the election.

“We expect a peaceful exercise because the party has gotten a consensus candidate. We believe members will conduct themselves responsibly,” he said.

He said that some electoral officers had already arrived at their assigned locations. (NAN)