Orji Kalu, chief whip of the senate, has withdrawn from the 2023 presidential race.
Kalu, who has been advocating for a south-easterner to become the next president, had in January announced he would contest the 2023 election if the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is zoned to the south.
However, in a statement on Monday, the senator said he decided to withdraw from the race since there is “no zoning” in the APC and the contest has been thrown open to all aspirants.
Kalu added that he will contest the Abia north senatorial election.
“I have always maintained an unambiguous stand that for justice, equity and fairness in our country, the next president of Nigeria after President Muhammadu Buhari should come from the South East or the North East,” he said.
“I have also told Nigerians that I would only run for president if the two major political parties (APC and PDP) zone their tickets to the South East. That is why I was disappointed with our southern brothers who are talking about fairness and equity but have zero tolerance for the same fairness and equity in the South .
“In the absence of a South Easterner being president of Nigeria in 2023, I have my full support for a North Easterner. This is because it would be the closest to the equity, fairness and justice everyone is talking about. It further means that the justice is on its way to the South East .
“I thank those who said they have picked presidential form for me because they meant well for Nigerians .
“However, since there is no zoning and the contest is open to all Nigerians, I officially withdraw from presidential contest in 2023.
“I have also picked ticket to run for Abia North Senatorial zone and to complete the good work I started in Abia North.”
Kalu congratulated Senate President Ahmad Lawan for picking the nomination form of the APC, and urged all his allies to support the presidential bid of Lawan.
“I congratulate my friend, former roommate and boss, Senator Ahmad Lawan as he picks form to run for President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria under our great party , All Progressives Congress (APC),” the statement reads.
“I am most glad because he is from the North East, the only zone alongside South East that is yet to produce President of Nigeria.
“I urge all my friends, allies and supporters in the APC to toe the line of justice by supporting Senator Ahmad Lawan, a North Easterner for the presidential ticket of the APC.”