One of the absent political figures at the meeting of the national caucus of the All Progressives Congress.is ex-Vice President

The meeting, which began at 8:30pm, is being presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the new Banquet Hall of the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja.

It should be noted that Atiku has indicated his desire to contest for the Aso Villa seat come 2019 and has received public backing by one of Buhari's aides.

Senate President Bukola Saraki, House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara and Senate Leader Ahmad Lawan were 10 minutes late into the meeting attended by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and the APC national chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun.

The meeting is also being attended by a national leader of the party, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the former interim national chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande.

The governors in attendance include those of Sokoto, Niger, Kogi, Adamawa, Bauchi, Plateau, Katsina, Zamfara, Jigawa, Ondo, Kano, Benue, Oyo, Kebbi, Kaduna, Borno, Imo and Nasarawa States as well as the deputy governor of Osun State.

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Former governors present are Senator Ahmad Yarima (Zamfara), Martins Elechi (Ebonyi), Olusegun Osoba (Ogun), Olagunsoye Oyinlola (Osun), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (Kano) and Murtala Nyako (Adamawa) as well as a former military administrator of Lagos State, Buba Marwa.

The former speaker of the House of Representatives, Patricia Etteh, is also present.

As at the time of filing this report, neither Atiku nor his media aides have given reasons for his absent at the national caucus meeting.