APC Plans Rousing Welcome for Buhari Today

Major-General Muhammadu Buhari

• Moves to revive campaign
Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

The All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), is expected back home today to the warm embrace of party leaders and supporters at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.

The former head of state who defied the controversies that trailed his visit to the United Kingdom a fortnight ago to deliver a lecture at the Royal Institute of International Affairs, Chatham House, London, will be given a warm reception at the airport this morning by the party faithful.
THISDAY gathered that Buhari will be touching down at the Abuja airport at 5 am onboard a British Airways flight.

A reliable source at the APC campaign headquarters confirmed to THISDAY on Thursday that the party has made elaborate arrangements, including media coverage, for Buhari’s homecoming following his two-week sojourn in the United Kingdom.

“We want Nigerians to know that Buhari is back and the plan is that he will hit the ground running as a number campaign activities have been mapped out for him starting from this weekend," he said.

The airport reception may signal the resumption of the presidential campaign, the source said.

He added that the party leadership has rejigged its strategy for the final phase of campaign before the general election.

THISDAY further learnt that as part of efforts to counter the perceived gains so far recorded by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and improvement in President Goodluck Jonathan’s approval rating during Buhari’s absence, APC campaign directors held a meeting with state chairmen of the party on Thursday.

The meeting, which lasted for hours, had the Governor of Rivers State Chibuike Amaechi presiding along with other campaign bigwigs.
Although the meeting with the APC state chairmen was held behind closed doors, THISDAY learnt that the main agenda was to review the success and challenges of the campaign so far.

The meeting also considered the new strategy adopted by the party to conduct town hall meetings and how the chairmen can mobilise more supporters for the party to attend the meetings and in the run-up to the elections.