Contrary to the position of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), a coalition of Bishops and some pastors have arrived at the Musa Yar’adu centre, venue of the official unveiling of Senator Kashim Shettima as the vice presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The Bishops in their numbers were seen dressed in their cassock.
CAN had rejected Muslim-Muslim ticket of the APC.
The Christian body Tuesday issued an official statement to reject selection of Kashim Shettima as the running mate to Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
According to Blueprint, one of the Bishops who pleaded anonymity said that they were at the event to declare their support for Tinubu-Shettima presidential ticket.
Presidential candidate of the party, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the leadership of the APC led by Senator Abdullahi Adamu and several other party leaders are expected at the event.
Meanwhile, the security situation in and around the venue is tight with mammoth crowd of supporters and praise singers have besieged the venue, making it difficult for invited guests and Journalists to gain entrance.
Daily Sun reports that a combined security forces had a hectic time Wednesday trying to control a crowd of political supporters struggling to gain entrance into Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, the venue of the unveiling of the vice presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Kashim Shettima.
As early as 9.00 am, a mammoth crowd, comprising mainly northern youths, had gathered at the venue of unveiling, brandishing posters with various inscriptions, drumming and dancing in anticipation of the arrival of dignitaries.
The security agents, though strategically positioned, had difficulty managing the crowd that were endlessly consuming all manners of drug and engaging in theft.
Intermittently, the shout of “thief, thief” could be loudly heard accompanied by the pockets of the youths running after the suspected robbers to retrieve what they stole.
Genuine invitees, journalists, and important persons had difficulty gaining access to the venue of the event.
The invitees were held for hours on end before gaining access through the only entrance gate with their official vehicles.
Meanwhile, while the dignitaries were gathering at the venue of the unveiling, protesters, numbering hundreds, stormed the national secretariat of the ruling party to demand that the APC rescind its decision on the Muslim-Muslim joint presidential ticket.
Our correspondent gathered that the protesters were to converge at the venue of the unveiling but received a security report of a possible clash with area boys, resulting in the diverting of protest to the party’s national secretariat to register their disapproval.
At 12.12 pm, presidential candidate Bola Tinubu and his running mate, Kashim Shettima, arrived the venue in the company of dignitaries, comprising the APC governors, party chieftains and leaders.
(Information from Blueprint, Sun report)
