Senator Rochas Okorocha has joined the growing ranks of those who want to succeed Muhammadu Buhari as President of Nigeria.
By Emma Ogbuehi
Senator Rochas Okorocha, former governor of Imo State on Wednesday joined the growing ranks of those who want to succeed Muhammadu Buhari as President of Nigeria.
Okorocha formally declared his intention to run for the presidency in 2023 on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to his colleagues in the Senate.
He made his intention known in a letter to the Senate President which was read by Ahmad Lawan at plenary.
Okorocha said he will address a world press conference on Monday, January 31, 2022 to officially declare his ambition to contest the presidency.
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Recall that Rochas Okorocha had earlier stated in 2018, when he was still the governor of Imo state that he would succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.
He made the statement when he hosted some political stakeholders at the state government house in Owerri.
“Buhari’s declaration for a second term was a good development, Buhari would win again and again and after Buhari, the turn will come to south-east and it will be the turn of Okorocha,” He had said.
At the weekend Indications emerged Okorocha was set to join the league of All Progressives Congress APC chieftains who have declared interest to take over from President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.
Feelers from the Buhari House national secretariat of the party point to the fact that the senator has been meeting with several stakeholders including those outside partisan politics.
Some of those who have declared their interest so far are business tycoon, Chief Moses Chia Ayom from Benue state; Kogi state Governor, Yahaya Bello; a national leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Ebonyi state Governor, Dave Umahi; Senate Chief Whip, Orji Uzor Kalu; and youth activist, Ikechukwu Dallas Chima.
Although Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is yet to indicate interest, there are some interest groups urging him to make his ambition public.