Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has revealed that about nine presidential aspirants under the All Progressives Congress (APC) will step down to support presidential ambition of the Senate President, Dr Ahmad Lawan
He also revealed that an influential presidential aspirant from the opposition party is making plans to join the APC
Speaking with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday, Kalu who was the first to drop his presidential ambition in support of Lawan on the grounds of non zoning to South East and in support of North East in the absence of the zoning said “Lawan’s candidature will rock like hurricane “
According to him , “ The issue of the APC presidential candidate will be settled even before the primaries. As I am talking to you, about nine presidential aspirants from our party have intimated me of their plans to drop their presidential ambitions to support Ahmad Lawan . Does that not signify Victory before the election? Lawan’s candidature will rock like hurricane.
“Lawan is from the North East and has similar sympathy with the South East that is yet to produce president . I have repeated my reasons for dropping my ambitions for Lawan severally and I am sure Nigerians are aware already .
“We are also expecting an influential presidential aspirant from the opposition to join the APC . So you can see the party is very progressive and properly ready for Lawan’s emergence “ the former Governor said
On the Issue of call for postponement of primary elections by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) , Kalu said he do not expect INEC to listen to any political party for extension of dates for the primary elections
He said the parties were duly informed and should have prepared well as mandated by INEC .
In his words “ Extension of the dates will only support irresponsibility. Nigerians find it difficult in keeping to time and appointments and that is why they would always seek for extra time .
“I support the INEC to stick to their timetable otherwise we will be living with postponement after postponement. Such a trend is not healthy for a society and it’s people .
“Everyone complains of indiscipline but are not ready to be practical about the requirements of discipline. INEC should discipline any party that fails to meet up because that is the only way they can take their jobs serious” Kalu said
