The presidential candidate of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria Dr
Oby Ezekwesili today withdrew from the race to dislodge
President Muhammadu Buhari from Aso Villa , her campaign
spokesman Ozioma Ubabukoh said .
She confirmed her exit from the race shortly after Ubabukoh broke
the news.
“ I have decided to step down from the presidential race and focus
on helping to build a Coalition for a viable alternative to the
# APCPDP in the 2019 general elections, ” Ezekwesili said today.
Ezekwesili, a former World Bank vice president for Africa , was one
of the bright sparks in a presidential campaign that has seen the two
leading political parties – ruling All Progressives Congress and
People’s Democratic Party – regurgitate tired talking points .
Ezekwesili was one of the three candidates that participated in the
debate held for presidential candidates on Saturday . The decision to
quit came after series of consultations were held in the days after
the debate .
She, however, insisted she was ready to help build a viable coalition
that will wrestle power from the APC / PDP binary .
“ I have not hesitated to offer my willingness to step down my
candidacy in order to facilitate the emergence of a strong and viable
alternative behind which Nigerians can line up in our collective
search for a new beginning ,” Ezekwesili said .
A reluctant politician, she told newsmen in November 2018 that
having to choose between the PDP and APC was not the best way
forward for Africa ’s most populous country .
“ I never had interest in politics . Anyone who knows me knows that I
detest politics ,” she says . “ But I had to get to the place where
listening to the political class say to us that we have to choose the
lesser of two evils got me infuriated. ”
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