Opposition Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti state, a pathological critic of President Muhammadu Buhari, met face-to-face and in a warm handshake with the president at the villa on Thursday.
Fayose was at the Villa to attend the Council of State meeting.
President Buhari had summoned a meeting of the Council of State to deliberate on key national issues.
The meeting, which started at 11 a.m, was attended by three former presidents; President Olusegun Obasanjo, who recently criticised Buhari’s administration and advised the President against seeking a second term, former military leader Yakubu Gowon and retired General Abdusalam Abubakar, who was also former military head of state.
Others in attendance were, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, four former Chief Justices of Nigeria; Justice Muhammad Uwais, Idris Kutigi, Mariam Alooma and Justice Alfa Belgore. Senate President Bukola Saraki and other state governors were also in attendance.
The meeting endorsed the appointments of 23 members of the National Population Commission (NPC) and a National Electoral Commissioner for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). This was reportedly disclosed by Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra, alongside Gov. Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun, to State House correspondents when being quizzed on the outcome of the Council of State meeting on Thursday.
Obiano also revealed that the appointment of two non-legal practitioners in the Federal Judicial Service Commission was also endorsed by the Council.
He said “Council was consulted today and the Council deliberated and endorsed the President’s appointments of the following vacant positions; the two non-legal practitioners to the Federal Judicial Service Commission, a National Electoral Commissioner for INEC and 23 members of the National Population Commissionn’’
According to him, the names of the new appointees would soon be made available to the public.
The meeting observed a minute silence in memory of late former Chief Justice Dahiru Mustapher, who died recently.