Garba Shehu, the former spokesperson to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, has provided an explanation for Buhari’s absence from the caucus meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The APC had scheduled its national caucus and national executive committee (NEC) meetings for August 2 and 3, respectively.
While the national caucus gathering took place at the presidential villa on Wednesday, the NEC meeting is set to convene at Transcorp Hilton on Thursday.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Shehu stated that Buhari could not attend the caucus meeting due to prior commitments he had made.
He also mentioned that the former president apologised for his absence and reaffirmed his support and commitment to the party.
The statement reads, “Former President Muhammadu Buhari has explained his inability to be present at the caucus meeting and the national executive committee, NEC, meetings of the All Progressives Congress, APC, to which he has been invited.
He has conveyed his apologies, indicating that he is unable to attend due to commitments earlier made.
The former president used the opportunity to express his support and commitment to the party, at the same time wishing it a good meeting, as the leaders take decisions on issues of importance to the party and the nation.”
On July 17, the ruling party had announced the suspension of its planned national caucus and national NEC meetings.
This decision came after an emergency gathering of the party’s national working committee (NWC) at the party’s headquarters in Abuja.
The NWC meeting was called in response to the “resignation” of Abdullahi Adamu and Iyiola Omisore from their positions as the national chairman and national secretary of the ruling party, respectively.
As a result of the change in the party’s leadership, the meetings were postponed.