Ahead of Today’s APC NEC, Tinubu Meets Party’s National Caucus

•Buhari: I won’t be able to attend the meetings

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

Ahead of the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) today in Abuja, President Bola Tinubu, yesterday, met with the national caucus of the party behind closed doors at the State House, Abuja.

Unfortunately, former President Muhammadu Buhari, has disclosed that he won’t be able to attend the caucus and NEC meetings of the party following his earlier commitments.

Although the agenda of the meeting held at the Banquet Hall were not made public and newsmen were barred from  the meeting, there were indications that it might not be unconnected to the politics of leadership succession in the. APC.

The National Chairman and Secretary of the party, Senators Abdullahi Adamu and Iyiola Omisore, had resigned their positions last month.

Since their resignations, there have been subtle political moves to choose their successors.

While the President was reportedly pushing for a former Kano State governor, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, as Adamu’s replacement, other stakeholders were said to have preferred the emergence of  an ex-Nasarawa State governor, Senator Tanko Almakura, as his successor.

THISDAY, however, learnt that the decision about who steps into those officesmight be taken at the meeting, among other pressing issues.

Those billed to be at the meeting include all serving APC governors, all past national chairmen and secretaries, former President Muhammadu Buhari; the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio; and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Tajudeen Abass, among others.

But Buhari, yesterday, in a release by his former spokesperson, Mallam Garba Shehu, attributed his announced absence to earlier scheduled commitments, but pledged his total support and commitment to the party.

“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 and has conveyed his apologies, indicating that he is unable to attend due to commitments earlier made.

“Muhammadu Buhari 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,” he said.