An Eastern Governor Declares Interest in The Presidential Race

The Nigerian Presidential election is set to occur in the year 2023, and campaigns by interested persons are ongoing.

Recently, an eastern governor hopped on the race. Dave Umahi, the Governor of Ebonyi State has indicated interest to become the next Nigerian President. 

Shortly after the news of the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Ahmed Bola Tinubu announcing his intent to contest the presidential election made rounds, Dave Umahi, the Governor of Ebonyi State declares his ambition to contest for the presidency.

Dave Umahi paid a visit to President Buhari in the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The meeting was held behind closed doors. Nevertheless, after the meeting, Umahi confirmed to newsmen that he has made his ambition known to President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Governor made it known that the President advised him to solicit support from his people.

Umahi’s View On Tinubu’s Ambition

He further maintained that Tinubu’s interest to contest does deter his ambition. In his words;

“The Bible that I swore with a section of it in 1 Samuel says that by strength shall no man prevail, and power and might belong to God, … I’m not in a contest with anybody, I am in a contest with myself.”

Earlier, Dave Umahi was a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). However, he decamped to the ruling party (APC) because the opposition party was unwilling to give the 2023 ticket to the Southeast.

A confident Mr Dave Umahi, claims that if the presidential ticket is thrown open at the party level he stands a better chance of being the APC flag bearer. 

In speaking to newsmen he said;

“Of course, you know, the interest of the South East, for the seat of presidency in 2023. And, of course, I tMr Mr President, that without prejudice to whatever will be the decision of the party, which we shall abide by, that if the party throws the ticket open or zoned to the southern part of Nigeria that I believe that with what I have put in place in the past six years plus, that I’ll be running for the presidency, on the platform of APC.

“So I told him and of course, he believes that whoever wants to run for president of this country must have to consult widely, go to all the leaders and that we must do everything to remove ethnicity and religion in our politics So that this country can grow.”

Finally, he promised that if he becomes the party’s presidential candidate, his administration will repeat his achievement in Ebonyi state at the national level. 

Read More: 2023 Elections: Tinubu declares ambition to run for the presidency