The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, on Friday warned the warring factions in the All Progressives Congress (APC) to stay away from the party’s national secretariat in Abuja for now.
Operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS) yesterday joined armed policemen on the premises of the secretariat to keep the peace and ensure that no one gained access.
The building has since been put under lock and key since Wednesday when an FCT High Court suspended the national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole.
Adamu met with the two sides on Friday during which he told them to refrain from taking the law into their hands.
A group opposed to the APC National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, had on Wednesday obtained an interlocutory injunction restraining him from parading himself as chairman.
Soon after the order was granted, the police deployed a detachment of their men to secure the APC secretariat.
Human movement within the premises was restricted with only secretariat staff and journalists allowed in. No party member or visitor is allowed to enter the party.
The following day, a Federal High Court in Kano issued an interim order that the status quo be maintained in the APC.
The development did not sit well with the anti-Oshiomhole group who vowed to resist his planned return to the secretariat yesterday.
Each of the two sides, armed with a court order, went to the Force Headquarters, Abuja yesterday, seeking police protection.
The IG could only ask them to give peace a chance and keep off the party’s national secretariat for now.
It was gathered that Oshiomhole led a faction of the National Working Committee (NWC) to the meeting with the IG while the National Vice Chairman, North East, Comrade Salihu Mustapha, led the other group.
With neither of them willing to yield ground at the meeting, the IG directed that the two groups should stay away from the party secretariat.
Consequently, a team from the DSS was sent to reinforce the police detachment already at the secretariat.
Party staff who reported for work were not allowed into the building.
Some party members and reporters who went to the Secretariat were also turned back from the gate by the security personnel.
No fewer than 15 Police Hilux trucks were seen around the premises.
A Rapid Response Squad (RRS) Peugeot car and a hot water sprinkler truck were also strategically parked on the deserted street.
At 4:24 pm on Friday, five armed security men arrived at the premises on motorbikes to join those on ground. (The Nation)
