Nigeria’s president, Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday said the exit of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and others from the All Progressives Congress, APC, barely made a dent in the party’s superstructure, as they could not muster the figures they had envisaged to cause an upset, particularly in the two chambers of the National Assembly.

Buhari, who spoke at the National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting of the APC in Abuja, said despite conciliatory attempts to keep the house together, some members were hell-bent on pulling down the roofs.

“They left, plotting to go along with scores of people, thus upsetting the apple cart. But due to the yeoman’s work by the new party leadership, the exit barely made a dent in our superstructure, as they could not muster the figures they had envisaged to cause an upset, particularly in the two chambers of the National Assembly.

“APC remains in control, and increases by the day, with quality people joining our fold. I say congratulations to the new NEC members,” he said.

Buhari said the NEC was meeting to look at some major decisions that would get the party ready for an excellent performance at the polls next year, starting with party primaries at various levels, while urging all to ensure that decisions taken at the meeting were those that would avail the good of the party, and ones that met the yearnings and expectations of the teeming members and supporters nationwide, as they “they look up to us for guidance, and we must not disappoint or fail them.”

According to Buhari, “hope is rekindled in our hearts that we will give our country purposeful leadership that will improve the quality of lives of the people. We will continue to secure the country, fight graft, and position the economy in a way that jobs can be provided for our youths, and give them a future and a hope.

“We will fulfill all the promises we have made to Nigerians. We are fulfilling them, and will continue to serve with heart and might, to build a nation where peace, justice, and prosperity shall reign.

“As we stand at the threshold of party primaries, I urge all and sundry to ensure that we play the game according to the rules. Let us come out with free, fair, and credible primaries, which will be a precursor to free, fair, and credible General Elections next year. Let us shine the light through our primaries, and the rest of the country will find the way,” he said.

Buhari said the APC’s primaries must be in complete compliance with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, the Electoral Act and above all the constitution of the party.

“The times in which we are call for unity, harmony and togetherness. Let us all join hands to move the party forward. We must take our party to the next level, and I urge all and sundry to give support to our National Working Committee,” he said.