Olusegun Ariyo
Former President, Muhammadu Buhari’s spokesperson, Malam Garba Shehu, has explained the reason behind Buhari’s absence from the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held in Abuja on Wednesday.
The high-profile gathering, presided over by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, brought together key APC figures, including Vice President Kashim Shettima, governors, National Chairman Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, members of the National Working Committee (NWC), and other stakeholders.
However, notable absentees included Buhari, former Kaduna State governor Malam Nasir El-Rufai, and former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi.
Speaking to BBC Hausa, Shehu clarified that Buhari was invited to the meeting on short notice, making it impractical for him to travel from his hometown, Daura, to Abuja in time.
“President Muhammadu Buhari is not a caucus member of the party. He was supposed to attend the NEC meeting, but unfortunately, the invitation reached him only a day before the event. Even if he owned a private jet, he could not have made it in time,” Shehu stated.
Despite his absence, Shehu emphasized that Buhari remains deeply connected to the APC, highlighting his role as a founding member and two-time presidential candidate under the party’s banner.
“Buhari may not have been physically present, but his spirit was with the attendees. He is and will always be a dedicated member of the APC,” Shehu added.
