Nigeria-There was tension yesterday in Abuja following the insistence of All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders to march on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in protest against its plan to have a supplementary election in Anambra State.

CEOAFRICA news gathered that soldiers were drafted to the INEC headquarters in Maitama District as part of a heavy security build-up to stop the march.

The APC had written the FCT Police Command for protection during the march, but the police turned down the request.

In a statement last night by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the APC vowed to proceed with the march, despite the “illegal” move by the police to stop it.

The statement noted that the APC is doing this as a patriotic service to the nation because INEC as presently constituted is not capable of organising a free and fair election again in Nigeria adding that if the Commission is not checked, its incompetence and conniving acts could plunge the country into chaos of unimaginable proportions.

APC explained that ahead of the march, it wrote a letter to the FCT Police Command to inform it of the planned procession and to request for escort to forestall a possible hijacking of the march by hoodlums.

It added that to its dismay, the FCT Police Commissioner did not only turn down her request for police escort, but also cheekily advised them to restrict their activities to holding a press conference within the party headquarters to convey its grievances to INEC .

The statement however stated that the party will not be deterred by the police, who have missed another great opportunity to affirm their neutrality and respect for the rule of law adding that they will use the march to prove the point that they will not condone a police command abridging its constitutional rights.