President Muhammadu Buhari Presidential Campaign headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday witnessed activities towards the 2019 presidential re-election bid of the President.
The activities took place even as the President later visited the campaign office on Wednesday evening.
The headquarters located on Herbert Macaulay Way, Central Business District served the same purpose for the 2015 presidential election.
Shortly after Buhari won the election however, the building located not too far from the temporary site of the National Defence College and the headquarters of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation became deserted.
Our correspondent observed that activities were going on in the building on Wednesday barely four days after Buhari asked his supporters across the country to halt campaigns for his re-election.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the building and its wall were wearing a new look having been repainted. It retained its white and blue colours.
New national flags and those of the ruling All Progressives Congress had also been hoisted on the many poles erected inside the premises.
Giant billboards and banners bearing photographs of Buhari and that of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo adorned the frontage of the building.
The billboards and banners had inscriptions such as ‘Buhari 2019: The struggle for ordinary Nigerians continues,’ ‘Buhari 2019: Repair work on Nigeria continues,’ and ‘Let’s continue our good work” among others.
Our correspondent observed that security which had been relaxed at the premises since the 2015 election was won had been beefed up again.
Officials of the Department of State Services, Nigeria Police Force and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps were seen at the gate, within and outside the premises.
A vehicle belonging to the bomb disposal unit of the NPF marked EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) was among security vehicles parked at the gate.
Security operatives were seen searching the few cars that were allowed entrance into the premises. The movements noticed within the premises suggested that a meeting was going on as of the time our correspondent visited.
Buhari had on Saturday urged his supporters across the country to halt their current campaigns for his re-election.
He said such activities at this time could amount to jumping the gun since the Independent National Electoral Commission had timetable for the electoral process.
President Buhari’s visit to his campaign office on Wednesday evening is contained in a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, which he made available to journalists.
Adesina quoted the President as expressing satisfaction with the renovation on the building.
The statement read, “President Muhammadu Buhari took time off late Wednesday afternoon to visit the proposed presidential campaign office for next year’s election.
“On the President’s entourage were his Chief of Staff, Mallam Abba Kyari, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, and other senior government officials.
“On hand to receive the delegation was the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, who took the President round the newly refurbished structure. President Buhari expressed satisfaction with the facelift, and thanked all those who worked on giving the office a befitting look.”
