The Chief Whip of the Senate and former Governor of Abia State, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has claimed that nine presidential aspirants from the All Progressives Congress (APC) are set to step down for Senate President, Ahmad Lawan.
Speaking to newsmen on Saturday, the former presidential hopeful said a presidential aspirant from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is set to also join the APC.
Orji Kalu, who dropped his presidential ambition and backed that of Lawan, stated that the Senate President’s candidature will ‘rock like hurricane.’
He said: “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 ambition 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 ambition for Lawan severally and I am sure Nigerians are aware already.
“We are also expecting an influential PDP presidential aspirant to join the APC.”
The former governor of Abia State added that the APC is very progressive and properly ready for Lawan’s emergence.
Speaking further, the lawmaker dismissed calls on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to postpone party primaries.
According to Orji Uzor Kalu, the PDP, APC and other parties were duly informed and should have prepared well.
He said: “Extension of the dates will only support irresponsibility. Nigerians find it difficult to keep to time and appointments and that is why they would always seek for extra time.
“I support 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 its people.
“We complains of indiscipline but 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 seriously.”
This article was originally published on Nigeria News