Dogara, Lasun shun party's NEC meeting

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, and his deputy, Yusuf Lasun, were two notable absentees from the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The party's NEC met at the APC Secretariat in Abuja on Thursday, August 30, 2018, but its highest ranking members in the legislature were conspicuously absent.

The party's national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, expressed the apologies of the absent parties to the present members which included President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo.

While Dogara was absent due to another engagement, Lasun was absent due to a medical appointment outside the country.

One of the key decisions expected to be taken at the meeting was whether to adopt direct or indirect methods for the party's primary elections for the upcoming 2019 general elections.

While the party employed the indirect delegate system for the 2015 general elections, the direct method, which allows all registered party members to vote, was adopted for the Osun Governorship primary election which Lasun contested in and lost and publicly expressed reservations against.

Dogara has also long been rumoured to be set to follow in the footsteps of Senate President, Bukola Saraki, in dumping the APC for the opposition People's Democratic Party (PDP).

Buhari urges APC to conduct credible primary elections

While speaking at the meeting on Thursday, President Buhari urged the committee to make good decisions that'll put the party in good stead for the 2019 elections.

He said, "Any political party worth its salt must get its internal dynamics right and march as a team towards a decisive time such as a major election in the country.

"Today, we are meeting to look at some major decisions that will ensure an excellent performance at the polls next year.

"Starting with party primaries at various levels, I urge you all to ensure that decisions taken here are those that will be for the good of the party and meet the yearnings and expectations of our teeming members and supporters nationwide.

"They look up to us for guidance and we must not disappoint or fail them."

The president also promised that his administration will continue to fulfill promises made to Nigerians and urged the party to commit to conducting free, fair and credible primary elections.