Senate president confirms that Orji Uzor Kalu bowed out of presidential race for him

SENATE president Senator Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan has confirmed that the senate chief whip Senator Orji Uzor Kalu abandoned his presidential bid and stood down for him so the two of them did not clash.

Both Senators Lawan and Kalu had declared their presidential intentions and were seeking to secure the ticket of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Today, however, while announcing a roll call of senators who are running for president on the APC platform next year, Senator Lawan described Senator Kalu as a statesman for withdrawing from the race for him.

APC senators who have purchased the N100m APC presidential nomination form include Senator Ibikunle Amosun representing Ogun Central Senatorial District, Senator Robert Ajayi Boroffice representing Ondo North Senatorial District and Senator Ahmad Lawan representing Yobe North Senatorial District. They are in what is looking like it will be a tight race.

Senator Lawan said: “The first person to buy presidential nomination form was Senator Ibikunle Amosun and the next was 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.

“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.”

Yesterday, Senator Lawan claimed to have been presented with the presidential nomination form by a group operating under the aegis of the National Stability Project, led by Sam Nkire. The nomination form was presented to him after an elaborate ceremony at the senate president’s guest house in Maitama, Abuja.