Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar was conspicuously absent at the All Progressives Congress’ caucus meeting which was presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the new Banquet Hall, Aso Rock, Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) however reported that the Turakin Adamawa may have travelled out of the country.
According to reports, the meeting which started at about 8.45 pm, was attended by the newly appointed Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, with some stakeholders jostling for photo sessions with the new appointee.
Notable party bigwigs at the meeting were Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, party national Chairman, John Odigie Oyegun, Sen. Bola Tinubu, cabinet ministers and presidential aides.
The meeting was also being attended by governors of Plateau, Adamawa, Bauchi, Sokoto, Niger, Kogi, Jigawa, Benue, Ondo, Oyo, Ogun, Kebbi, Nasarawa as well as deputy governors of Kwara and Yobe states.
Meanwhile, chieftains of the party, at the end of meeting, passed a vote of confidence on its leadership.
Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara who disclosed this, also said that the meeting also reinforced the unity, commitment and strength of all members of the party.
“This meeting shows our unity in the party, shows our strength and our commitment to the party and to Nigerians.”
Sen. Bukar Abba-Ibrahim, who also spoke on the outcome of the meeting, dismissed the speculation that it was convened to remove the leadership of the APC.
According to him, “you remember, you saw it in some of the newspapers. That our crises had deepened, APC is going to break, there is a plan to kick out our national chairman – none of these things happened.
“It is a big family reunion and we are all happy and this party is going to dominate the Nigerian political space for a very long time to come. I don’t want to predict any number of years.”
Mr John Odigie-Oyegun, the party’s National Chairman, described the caucus as “very fantastic,” adding that the party would be stronger after its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on Tuesday in Abuja.
