Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello and Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajuba have joined the race for the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential ticket.
While Governor Bello was present at the APC national secretariat to pick his nomination and expression of interest forms, the Minister of State (Education) Emeka Nwajiuba said his friends had raised N100m for him to purchase nomination and expression of interest forms.
Speaking with newsmen at party secretariat, Bello,said, “We give glory to God Almighty the creator of the universe who has created today and made today a reality. Today I have with me my nomination and expression of interest forms to contest as the presidential flagbearer of this great party the All Progressives Congress.
“Today we are happy, Nigerians are happy and the party is happy. Right now what we have ahead of us is the task of canvassing and consulting all party faithfuls, leaders, stalwarts, members and even all Nigerians at home and in the diaspora. Give us your support to emerge as the flagbearer of this great party come 30th and 31st of May 2023 and by the grace of God I shall become victorious and the party shall become victorious.
On what he will bring to the table if he emerges President, the governor said he will restore hope to entire Nigeria and the entire black race and Africa as well as to unite, to secure, and to put the country on the path of progress and prosperity.
On the possibility of former President Goodluck Jonathan returning, he said, “That is the beauty of democracy. In democracy anybody can support anyone but I am assuring you that our great party, the APC is a party that has its own ethics, rules and regulations and I know surely that all of these are in my favour and I am not in anyway scared of the pedigree of anyone whatsoever. I am confident that I am in the majority, I have the women, I have the youth, I have the people living with disabilities and they are all behind me. I have leaders, I have followers and above all, I God almighty.”
Meanwhile, a youth group known as Project Nigeria, has raised over N100 million to purchase the APC expression of interest and presidential nomination forms for him.
The group led by Hon Chidi Nwogu, a member of the House of Representatives said that Nwajuba is one of the oldest and most reliable politicians. “Not oldest in terms of age, he’s actually a young person. And you can see a young group who are supporting him. This is actually a young group because of the not-too-young-to-run act.
“The president promised that this time around anyone who is going to run for presidency must be under 60 and these young people come together. When I saw their seriousness I decided to coordinate one of the groups. We put together the money and we have come today to show the seriousness by being the first to purchase this form and they find him credible, they find him hardworking,
“For 30 years he’s been in politics, unblemished, very humble, open door policy lawmaker and also a major supporter and detribalised Nigerian. This form is actually put together by persons from 36 States and it’s also an opportunity to make a case if at all we are making a case for South-east Presidency, we are also making a case for the president of Nigeria chosen by Nigerians not necessarily because he’s from the South-East but he’s young, reliable very experienced.”
