The Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) has made known why its presidential candidate, Obiageli Ezekwesili, shelved her political ambition.
Mrs Obiageli on Thursday pulled out of the presidential race, citing the need for a coalition to dislodge the two political parties in the country from power.
Her reason has been described as false, by the national chairman of the ACPN, Gani Galadima, who addressed newsmen at the party’s national secretariat.
Mr Galadima said the former Education Minister who he said was unserious dumped her ambition for a ministerial slot which she wanted using the party to bargain for.
He said the party has chosen to endorse President Muhammadu Buhari who is seeking re-election on the platform of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC).
“The reason for calling this press conference is to let the world know about the presidential aspiration of Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, which in actual fact, is not the truth. I have been put into confidence by one of her aide named Iyinoluwa Aboyeji that she only wanted to use the platform of the ACPN to negotiate to be Nigeria’s finance minister,” Galadima said.
“This she does not deem fit to inform the party whose mandate she is holding. If you observe, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili is the only presidential candidate who was so militant in her campaign without any tangible thing on ground to indicate any seriousness in the prosecution of her campaign.
“No campaign secretariat, billboard or great commitment on ground to indicate any seriousness. It is on this ground that the ACPN is withdrawing support for her presidential aspiration and endorsing the second term bid of President Muhammadu Buhari to take Nigeria to the next level,” he said.
The chairman said Ezekwesili did not inform the party of her decision to quit. He asked her to make a refund of the donation she received as the party would have to account to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“We may take her to court,” Galadima threatened, adding that: She was just using us to play.”
