The presidential candidate of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), Obiageli Ezekwesili, has said that the divergence in values and vision with the party triggered her withdrawal from the presidential race. Ezekwesili announced her withdrawal from the race on Thursday saying that she wants to help build a coalition to prevent the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from winning the election.
She said the actions of the ACPN, following her withdrawal, has made Nigerians aware of the reasons she ended her membership of the party. Abdul-Ganiyu Galladima, national chairman of the party, had accused Ezekwesili of not showing commitment to the party. He alleged that the former minister was in the race to secure the position of finance minister.
Subsequently, the party had endorsed President Muhammadu Buhari for reelection. However, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it is too late for any candidate to withdraw from contesting any position in the upcoming elections. The chief press secretary to the INEC chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, said the 17th of November 2018 was the last date for withdrawal.
Ezekwesili in her statement issued today said that Nigeria and Nigerians deserve a New Order of ethical, competent and capable leadership which she had mistakenly assumed the ACPN was aligned with her to offer, until it proved otherwise.
She denied the allegations against her by the leadership of the ACPN, describing them as “fabrications and outright lies”. Ezekwesili, who is currently travelling in Mexico, said upon her return to Nigeria, she will hold a World Press Conference to engage Nigerians on her next course of actions.
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