2023: Orji Kalu withdraws from presidential race, declares support for Ahmed Lawan
Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has announced withdrawal from the Presidential race and declared his support for Senate President Ahmed Lawan.
Kalu in a statement said his decision was informed by the fact that his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) will not be zoning the presidency to any region.
He said, “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 the President of Nigeria,” Kalu said.
“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 southeast 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 have 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 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 the presidential contest in 2023. I have also picked a 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.”
