Despite rejection, Orji Kalu says, ‘I’m still in the race to become Dep Senate President’

Former Abia State governor and senator-elect, Orji Uzor Kalu, has said that he remains in the race to become the next Deputy Senate President.

Kalu’s insistence to is coming after his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), had earlier in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Lanre Onilu, announced that it has adopted Senator Ovie-Omo-Agege as its candidate for the deputy Senate President of the 9th National Assembly.

The Abia former governor, who though said he holds President in high esteem as well as the APC national chairman and would not disobey any formal pronouncement by them, however, described the party’s adoption of Omo-Agege as fake news.

In a statement he released on Monday through his media office and signed by Ken Cole, Kalu said:

“Ahead of tomorrow’s inauguration of the 9th National Assembly and election of principal officers, politicians have started deploying different antics to satisfy their ambitions.

“One of such is a statement credited to National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mallam Lanre Onilu claiming that President Muhammadu Buhari and the NWC of the party have formally adopted Senator Ovie Omo-Agege as the party’s candidate for the position of Deputy Senate President.

“I hold the President in high esteem as well as the National Chairman of our great party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and other members of the NWC and as such, I will not disobey any formal pronouncement by them.

“However, I am still in the race to become Deputy Senate President because the President and the NWC have not adopted any candidate and as such the contest is open to all members of the party, who have the capability.

“I have the political dexterity, leadership qualities and goodwill to complement the efforts of the Senate President in actualizing the objectives of the legislature in support the efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari in taking Nigeria to greater heights.

“Leadership positions in the 9th Senate should be given to people who have the will to support the agenda of the APC while not deviating from the ideals of democracy.

READ ALSO: APC rejects S’East, Orji Kalu, officially adopts Omo-Agege as Senate Dep President

“As I continue to mobilize support for the position of Deputy Senate President, I commend the President, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and other stakeholders of the party for their support.

“Come tomorrow by the special grace of God and to the admiration of APC members and Nigerians at large, I will emerge as Deputy Senate President in the 9th national assembly”.

Kalu, who had earlier warned the APC not to leave South-east out in the leadership of the country, said he will only withdraw from the race if Buhari or the party’s highest decision-making body advised him to do so.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now