By Jennifer Y Omiloli
The campaign team of Oby Ezekwesili, the presidential candidate of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) has reacted to allegations by the party that she was never serious with her presidential ambition but only used the platform to negotiate for a top ministerial position.
On Friday, Ezekwesili’s media aide, Ozioma Ubabukor, described the allegations as false.
It will be recalled that Ezekwesili, a former minister of Education, Thursday morning backed out from the presidential election.
She said her decision was to help build a coalition to defeat the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). However, she said the decision was taken despite resistance from her party.
Shortly after Ezekwesili stepped down, her party released a statement withdrawing its support for her and adopted the president, Muhammdu Buhari, of the APC.
According to the statement signed by Gani Galadima, ACPN’s national chairman and running mate of the former minister and other party officials, her action was taken without consulting the party.
The party then accused Ezekwesili of using it as a platform to negotiate to be Nigeria’s finance minister.
“I have been put into confidence by one of her aide named lyinoluwa Aboyeji that she only wanted to use the platform of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) to negotiate to be Nigeria’s finance minister,” Mr Galadima said.
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it is impossible for any candidate at this stage to withdraw because the deadline for such has elapsed.
In line with the commission’s timetable for the election, the last day for withdrawal by candidates or replacement of withdrawn candidates by political parties for the presidential and National Assembly elections was November 17, 2018.
INEC said Ezekwesili’s withdrawal changes nothing as her party and name will still appear on the ballot come election day.
