Leadership of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) has criticised its presidential candidate, Dr Obiageli Ezekwesili, for withdrawing from the race.
In a statement on Thursday by its National Chairman, Mr Gani Galadima, the party alleged that the presidential aspiration of the former minister was not real.
“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,” it claimed.
“… She only wanted to use the platform of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) to negotiate to be Nigeria’s finance minister.”
The party accused Ezekwesili of taking the decision to withdraw from the presidential race without informing the ACPN leadership which mandate she was holding.
It also alleged that the former minister was not serious with her presidential ambition as she only showed very little commitment to it.
The ACPN said, “If you observe, Dr Oby Ezekwesili is the only presidential candidate who is so militant in her campaign without any tangible thing on the ground to indicate any seriousness in the persecution of her campaign.
“No campaign secretariat, billboard or great commitment on the ground to indicate any seriousness.”
The party explained further that it was for these reasons that it decided to withdraw its support for the presidential campaign of the former minister.
It added that it has endorsed the second term bid of President Muhammadu Buhari who it noted would take the nation to the next level.
Other ACPN leaders who signed the statement are Paul Isamade – National Secretary, Bosun Omosule – Deputy National Chairman (South), and Ibrahim Goronyo – Deputy National Chairman (North).
The party issued the statement hours after Dr Ezekwesili announced her withdrawal from the presidential election scheduled to hold on February 16.
In a statement by the spokesperson of her campaign organisation, Mr Ozioma Ubabukoh, she said the decision followed extensive consultations with leaders from various walks of life across the country over the past few days.
The former minister explained that she stepped down from the race to help build a coalition to prevent the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from winning the election.