May 14, (THEWILL) – Former Abia State governor and Chief Whip of the Senate, Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu, says nine presidential aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are set to step down, to support the presidential ambition of the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan.
Kalu, in a chat with newsmen on Saturday in Abuja, also hinted that an influential presidential aspirant from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is also planing to join the APC.
Though, Kalu did not disclose the identity of the aspirants purportedly nursing plans to drop their presidential aspiration in support of Lawan, he, however, maintained that he stepped down his bid for the presidential race because of failure of the APC to zone its presidential ticket to the South East.
Kalu, who declared his support for Lawan, said, “Lawan’s candidature will rock like hurricane. The issue of the APC presidential candidate will be settled even before the primaries.
“As I am talking to you, about nine presidential aspirants from our party have intimated me of their plans to drop their presidential ambition to support Ahmad Lawan.
“Does that not signify victory before the election? Lawan’s candidature will rock like hurricane. Lawan is from the North East and has similar sympathy with the South East that is yet to produce president.
“I have repeated my reasons for dropping my ambition for Lawan severally and I am sure Nigerians are aware already. We are also expecting an influential presidential aspirant from the opposition to join the APC. So, you can see the party is very progressive and properly ready for Lawan’s emergence”, Kalu said.
On the call for postponement of primary elections by some political parties, Kalu said he does not expect the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to listen to them; adding that political parties were duly informed and should have prepared well as mandated by the electoral body.
He said, “Extension of the dates will only support irresponsibility. Nigerians find it difficult to keep to time and appointments and that is why they would always seek for extra time.
“I support INEC to stick to their timetable, otherwise we will be living with postponement after postponement. Such a trend is not healthy for a society and its people. We complain of indiscipline, but not ready to be practical about the requirements of discipline.
“INEC should discipline any party that fails to meet up, because that is the only way they can take their jobs seriously.”
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