Ahead of President Bola Tinubu’s expected visit on Saturday for the flag-off of the All Progressives Congress, APC, 2027 presidential campaign, security has beefed up across Kaduna metropolis.
Heads of various security agencies in the state have deployed their personnel across the state. This is in view of the fact that campaign posters of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani were placed in strategic locations as some bear inscriptions, "welcome to Kaduna state."
Personnel of the Kaduna State Traffic Law Enforcement Authority, KASTLEA, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, are among those assigned to protect the campaign materials, especially at night, when they are considered vulnerable to vandalism.
Also, deployed were police officers and plain-clothes operatives who were stationed at major roads and roundabouts across the metropolis, while patrol vehicles were seen around the stadium.
Tinubu is expected to be joined by governors from the seven North-West states for the rally, which is anticipated to attract party supporters and political stakeholders from across the country.
Preparations were ongoing at the Kaduna Township Stadium on Friday, with the 8,000-capacity facility repainted and decorated with APC flags ahead of the president’s arrival.
The roads leading to the venue have also been adorned with campaign posters and billboards, while the stadium’s pavilions, conveniences and other facilities have been prepared for guests. Access to the premises has been restricted ahead of the event.
Meanwhile, the chairperson of the Local Organising Committee, LOC, for the campaign flag-off and Kaduna State Deputy Governor, Dr Hadiza Balarabe, has expressed satisfaction with preparations for the rally.
Balarabe added that the committee expected a large turnout of party members and supporters from across the country, noting that the North-West remained an APC stronghold.
Security tightened in Kaduna ahead of Tinubu’s APC campaign flag-off