Chief Whip of the Senate and former Governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu, has formally announced his withdrawal from the 2023 presidential race.
Kalu said he has now purchased the APC senatorial nomination form to return to the 10th National Assembly as Senator representing Abia North zone.
He said that his withdrawal from the presidential race was occasioned by the non-zoning of the ticket to his home region, Southeast, by his party.
The former governor announced his withdrawal from the race on Monday in a statement to congratulate Senate President Ahmad Lawan, who has just obtained the APC presidential nomination form.
Kalu declared his support for Lawan and asked his supporters including leaders and members of the APC to do the same in the spirit of equity and fairness.
According to him, it was necessary to support the Senate President who is from North East since the party did not zone its presidential ticket to South East, the two regions who are yet to produce president.
Read the statement below:
“I congratulate my friend, former roommate and boss, Senator Ahmad Lawan as he picks form to run for President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria under our great party, All Progressives Congress (APC).
“I am most glad because he is from the North-East, the only zone alongside South-East that is yet to produce President of Nigeria.
“I have always maintained an unambiguous stand that for justice, equity and fairness in our country, the next President of Nigeria after President Muhammadu Buhari should come from the South-East or the North-East.
“I have also told Nigerians that I would only run for president if the two major political parties (APC and PDP) zone their tickets to the South-East.
“That is why I was disappointed with our southern brothers who are talking about fairness and equity but has zero tolerance for the same fairness and equity in the South.
“In the absence of a south easterner being president of Nigeria in 2023, I have my full support for a North Easterner.
“This is because it would be the closest to the equity, fairness and justice everyone is talking about. It further means that the justice is on its way to the South-East.
“I thank those who said they have picked presidential form for me because they meant well for Nigerians.
“However, since there is no zoning and the contest is open to all Nigerians, I officially withdraw from presidential contest in 2023.
“I have also picked ticket to run for Abia North Senatorial zone and to complete the good work I started in Abia North.
“I urge all my friends, allies and supporters in the APC to toe the line of justice by supporting Senator Ahmad Lawan, a North Easterner for the presidential ticket of the APC.”
