Former President Muhammadu Buhari has reiterated commitment to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), saying he would like to be addressed as a loyal member of the party.

He was reacting to a media report credited to the former Kaduna Governor of Kaduna state, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, who claimed he got Buhari’s approval before he left the ruling party for the opposition Social Democratic Party (SDP).

El-Rufai, during an interview with BBC Hausa, claimed Buhari was among those he consulted before making the decision to dump the APC for the SDP.

The former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) last Monday via the social media announced his resignation from APC, citing irreconcilable differences as his reason for leaving the ruling party.

Speaking during the interview, El-Rufai was quoted to have said: “I left the APC with his (Buhari) full knowledge. I visited him on a Friday and informed him of my decision to leave the party because I consult with him on all my matters “

But Buhari however in a statement on Thursday by his media aide, Mallam Garba Shehu, maintained that he had said it times without number in the past that he remain a loyal member of the APC. 

The statement reads: “The former President has made clear that he would never turn his back to the party that gave him two terms of office and would do whatever he can to popularize it.

“I am an APC member and I like to be addressed as such. I will try to popularise the party by all means.”

Buhari added he has nothing but gratitude for the support the party gave him before and during his tenure as President, which he considers as the highest honour and would never ask for anything more.

He further stated that the pains taken by the founding fathers to establish a strong party to protect the constitution and democracy as a system of government are worthy sacrifices that should be cherished and nurtured.