Obasanjo Absent As Buhari, Other Ex-Leaders Join Jonathan, For Council Of State Meeting

The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), is among former leaders currently attending the Council of State meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan, at the State House in Abuja which started around 11am.

The meeting is expected to discuss, among other things, the calls, in some quarters, for the postponement of the forthcoming general elections.

Former heads of state Generals Yakubu Gowon, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar as well as former President Shehu Shagari and former head of the Interim National Government Chief Ernest Shonekan are also present.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo is conspicuously absent at the meeting.

Also in attendance are Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo, Senate President David Mark, House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Attorney-General of the Federation Mohammed Bello Adoke, Secretary to the Government of the Federation Anyin Pius Anyim, National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki,

The APC governors in attendance include Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano), Babatunde Raji Fashola (Lagos), Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Aliyu Wamako (Sokoto), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Abdulfatahi Ahmed (Kwara), Tanko Almakura (Nasarawa), Adams Oshiomhole (Edo), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara) and the deputy governors of Borno and Yobe States.

People's Democratic Party (PDP) governors at the meeting include those of Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi, Kaduna, Cross River, Niger, Kogi, Bayelsa, Adamawa, Ondo, Taraba, Delta, Enugu, Ekiti, Plateau, Jigawa, Katsina, Gombe and Bauchi States as well as the Minister of the FCT, Bala Mohammed.

The Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh, led other service chiefs and the Inspector-General of Police, Sulaiman Abba, to the meeting.

Former Chief Justices of Nigeria, Justices Dahiru Mustapha and Alfa Bagore are also in attendance.

The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, arrived the State House for the meeting at exactly 11.00am.