Senate President, Dr. Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan, stated Tuesday in plenary that Senate Chief Whip and former Governor of Abia State, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, had dropped his presidential bid in favor of him.
He said this while unveiling a list of senators who want to run for president in 2023 on the governing All Progressives Congress platform (APC).
Senator Kalu was praised by Lawan as a statesman for quitting from the presidential contest to support him.
2023: Orji Kalu Withdraws From Presidential Race, Backs Lawan
Senator Ibikunle Amosu of Ogun Central Senatorial District, Senator Robert Ajayi Boroffice of Ondo North Senatorial District, and himself of Yobe North Senatorial District are among those who have acquired the N100 million APC presidential nomination form, according to him.
He said: “The first person to buy presidential nomination form is Senator Ibikunle.Amosu; the next is the distinguished deputy Senate leader, Senator Robert Ajayi Boroffice.
“Also I got the nod and I have shown my interest to contest for the Office of the President of our great country on the platform of our great party, the APC.
“So the Senate contingent is a formidable one and by the grace of the Almighty God the aspirants for the All Progressives Congress and maybe the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as well will make headway.
“The Chief Whip, who is also an aspirant, has stepped down to support my aspiration. So the Chief Whip of the Federation, I will thank you for what you have done for being a statesman.
2023: Senate President, Lawan Joins Presidential Race, Purchase Nomination Form
“All our colleagues who are contesting for the governorship in their various states, we wish all of them the best of luck and those who want to come back to the Senate, we also wish them the best of luck.”
The Senate President said on Monday that a group working under the cover of “National Stability Project,” directed by Mr Sam Nkire, supplied him with the presidential nomination form.
After an elaborate ceremony at the Senate President’s guest residence in Maitama, Abuja, where certain Senators loyal to him were present, the nomination form was delivered to him.
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