Malam Garba Shehu, the spokesperson for Muhammadu Buhari has revealed why the former president was absent from the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held in Abuja on Wednesday.

Buhari was one of the notable absentees from the meeting including former Kaduna State governor Malam Nasir El-Rufai, and former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi.

Reacting to the perceived infraction between Buhari and the current leadership of the party, Shehu in an interview with BBC Hausa 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.

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.

NBA