Former President Muhammadu Buhari has also stayed away from the National Caucus meeting of the ruling party All Progressive Congress.
The meeting held late into the night on Wednesday.
His Vice, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, had earlier excused himself from attending the meeting on Wednesday.
In a statement released on his behalf by Mallam Garba Shehu, the former president said he could not attend the meeting because of other engagements to which he had been committed.
Former President Muhammadu Buharihas 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.”
Osinbajo, in the same tone, had explained why he could not attend the meeting owing to his engagements outside Nigeria.
NPO Reports quoted an earlier statement from Osinbajo’s Media Center as saying “In a letter of apology addressed to the Acting Chairman of the Party, the former VP explained that he was already abroad for engagements to which he had long been committed when he received the invitation to the meeting.
He had in fact cancelled some of his engagements abroad to be available for the two previously scheduled caucus meetings of the Party which had to be postponed due to exigencies.
“While wishing the APC fruitful deliberations, he expressed his fidelity to the Party and his availability for future meetings and activities. “
The meeting had held Wednesday night behind close doors. It preceded that of the National Executive Committee of the party slated to hold today.
Recall that the National Chairman and Secretary of the party, Senator Abdullahi Adamu and Senator Iyiola Omisore respectively recently resigned their appointments.
Since their resignations, there have been subtle political moves on who would succeed them.
While the President was allegedly pushing for the former Kano state governor, Abdullahi Ganduje as Adamu’s replacement as the National Chairman, other stakeholders were said to.be routing for the emergency of the ex Nasarawa state governor, Senator Tanko Almakura, as his successor.
A source disclosed that the issue of who emerges the National Chairman and Secretary of the party would.be thrashed out at the meeting amongst other controversial issues.
Expected to be at the meeting were all serving governors on the platform of the party, all past national executive members, former President Muhammadu Buhari and the leadership.of the National Assembly.