Buhari Did The Right Thing By Holding APC NEC Virtual Meeting – Atiku Bagudu

Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi and Chairman, Progressives Governors’ Forum has come out to say that President Muhammadu Buhari is not to blame for the All Progressive Congress virtual NEC meeting held recently.

Atiku Bagudu revealed this while answering questions from newsmen today in Birnin Kebbi.

According to him, Buhari did not violate any constitutional provision at the meeting, as opposed to the opinions of some public commentators.

He then added that Nigeria’s constitution clearly states that the President must be a member of a political party before becoming the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

His words, “It is that party that sponsors people and has obligation for anybody, who is a president, who contested on its platform.

“Hence belonging to a political party is not partisanship.

“This is created by the qualifying section of the constitution, without which he/she cannot even contest the presidency or any political position.”

“So, this partisanship, if belonging to a political party can be described as such, is constitutional as it is imposed upon us by the constitution.”

“But unfortunately, the Nigerian Constitution necessitates that aspirants can only contest on a party’s platform and Buhari contested on such platform, won and took oath of office.

“I don’t know of any sentence in that oath of office that could have been violated by the president, attending a political party meeting in a virtual manner.

“The COVID-19 pandemic made the president to adjust his itineraries and activities so that he can participate in meetings across the country, as part of his official duties and obligation to a political party in a virtual manner.

“We should all remember that were the meeting to have held at APC headquarters, the president would have attended and that is not partisanship.

“The president has to attend the activities of his political party and he has to pay his dues for being a member of the political party.

Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum and Kebbi State Governor, Atiku Bagudu accompanied by Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong and Jigawa State Governor, Muhammad Badaru Abubakar at the State House, Abuja.”