Just In: Oby Ezekwesili Has Withdrawn From The Presidential Race

Dr. Oby Ezekwesili who was presidential candidate of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria, has withdrawn from the presidential race.

This information was revealed by the spokesperson of the Obiageli Ezekwesili Presidential Campaign Organisation, Ozioma Ubabukoh. Dr. Ezekwesili was said to have taken her decision after “extensive discussions with Nigerians at home and the Diaspora.”

Dr. Ezekwesili promised to help build a coalition to defeat the All Progressives Congress and also to defeat the Peoples Democratic Party in the February 16, 2019 election.

Dr. Ezekwesili said that her action and decision to withdraw, was also prompted by a meticulous examination of the country’s electoral environment sequel to the forthcoming 2019 presidential debate of Saturday, January 19, 2019.

The statement which was made this morning read: “This decision followed extensive consultations with leaders from various walks of life across the country over the past few days. I deem it necessary for me to focus on helping to build a veritable coalition to ensure a viable alternative to the #APCPDP in the forthcoming elections.”

“It is my ardent belief that this broad coalition for a viable alternative has now become more than ever before, an urgent mission for and on behalf of Nigerian citizens. I have therefore chosen to lead the way in demonstrating the much needed patriotic sacrifice for our national revival and redirection.”

“I wish to state that over the past three months, I have been in private, but extended talks with other candidates to birth a coalition that would allow Nigerians to exercise their choice without feeling helplessly encumbered by the evil twins of #APCPDP.”

“While the deliberations continued, I never hesitated for a moment in my willingness and determination to sacrifice my candidacy in order to facilitate the emergence of the envisaged strong and viable alternative that Nigerians could identify with in our collective search for a new beginning.”

“My commitment to this promising political recalibration has been consistent and in consonance with my agreement, at the request of candidates under the Presidential Aspirants Coming Together arrangement in 2018, when I consented to supervise the internal selection process as an outside observer passionate about building an alternative force.”

Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili had served Nigeria under the President Olusegun Obasanjo administration, as the Minister of Solid Minerals in the first term, Minister of Education in the second term, and had also served at the World Bank as the Vice-President of the World Bank’s Africa Division.

Dr. Ezekwesili was recently nominated in 2018 for the Nobel Peace Prize. This nomination was made based on her excellent work in transparency in the extractive sector.

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