Nigeria, July 17 -- Former President Muhammadu Buhari died as a loyal member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and a staunch supporter of his successor, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, according to a close political associate and former Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Farouk Aliyu.

Mr Buhari passed away on Sunday at the age of 82 in a London hospital. He was interred on Tuesday in his home in Daura, Katsina State.

The retired major general, served as Nigeria's civilian president from 2015 to 2023, after first leading the country as a military ruler between 1984 and 1985.

In March, Mr El-Rufai confirmed that he informed Mr Buhari before defecting to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), citing discontent with the APC.

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