Presidency Reacts As Ezekwesili Quits 2019 Presidential Race

The presidency has reacted to Oby Ezekwesili’s withdrawal from the 2019 presidential election.

Ezekwesili, a candidate of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), on Thursday, said her withdrawal is to help build a coalition against the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the People’s Democratic Party, PDP.

“This decision followed extensive consultations with leaders from various walks of life across the country over the past few days. I deem it necessary for me to focus on helping to build a veritable coalition to ensure a viable alternative to the #APCPDP in the forth coming elections”

“It is my ardent belief that this broad coalition for a viable alternative has now become more than ever before, an urgent mission for and on behalf of Nigerian citizens. I have therefore chosen to lead the way in demonstrating the much needed patriotic sacrifice for our national revival and redirection,” she said.

In a reaction, social media aide to President Muhammadu Buhari, Mrs Lauretta Onochie said Ezekwesili “chickened out.”

In a post on her twitter handle, Onochie said Ezekwesili withdrew from the race because she was threatened by the “mammoth crowd” that received president Buhari at the APC’s presidential rallies across the country.

Flash:
Oby Ezekwesili, the Presidential Candidate of ACPN, has chickened out.

After watching The mammoth crowd that continues to receive Mr. Integrity across the nation, she has pulled out of the Presidential Race, letting her followers down.@MBuhari will never let us down. pic.twitter.com/EXzphsYxFy

— Lauretta Onochie (@Laurestar) January 24, 2019