2023: Sen. Kalu Drops Presidential Ambition, Backs Ahmad Lawan

Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has dropped his 2023 presidential, saying this is because of the absence of zoning formula in APC which favours the South East zone.

He therefore announced his decision to support the President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan who on Monday picked his presidential nomination and expression of interest forms in Abuja.

Sen. Kalu, representing Abia North in a release on Monday said his decision to support Lawan is because he hails from North East, one of the zones yet to produce the president of the country, just like the South East.

The former Abia governor while thanking those who have picked presidential nomination form for him said he has decided to return to the Senate in 2023 to continue the good work he is doing for his Abia North Senatorial district and Nigeria at large.

He insisted that since the opportunity of a South Easterner to become the president in 2023, his support goes to a North Eastern candidate.

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 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.”