12 out of 36 governorship candidates on the platform of African Action Congress (AAC) have dissociated themselves from the presidential candidacy of Mr Omoleye Sowore, vowing not to support him in the 2023 presidential election.
In a press conference in Abuja, Monday, the candidates led by their Speaker Mr Iboro Otu, the AAC governorship candidate of Akwa ibom state, said they would be making their choice of presidential candidate known in a few days time.
They said consultations were ongoing to declare support and alliance with a candidate they considered has a vision that aligned with theirs in changing the current narrative of the country.
According to them, they realised and have “expressed reservations about the readiness, leadership and attitude of our presidential candidate, Omoleye Sowore, who also doubles as the Chairman of our party.”
Otu stated that against their advice of inclusiveness in party/team building and consolidating statewide structures, it was apparent Sowore was not in the race.
The candidates also added that it was clear Sowore’s political inexperience and counterproductive divide-and-rule leadership style was not what Nigeria and Nigerians needed at the moment of national healing.
The group said Sowore would not lead their party to electoral victory in the 2023 governorship elections.
The AAC governorship candidates who said their decisions were made after extensive collective deliberation with our wards and supporters and indeed between ourselves, towards the collective advancement of our democracy, deepening of democratic participation and supporting.
“As gubernatorial candidates and committed members of the African Action Congress party, in the past six months, we have come to see and have expressed reservations about the readiness, leadership and attitude of our presidential candidate, Omoleye Sowore, who also doubles as the Chairman of our party.
“As a presidential candidate, against our advice of inclusiveness in party/team building and consolidating statewide structures, it is apparent he is not in the race and now clear his basic political inexperience and counterproductive divide-and-rule leadership style is not what Nigeria and Nigerians need at this moment of national healing nor will it lead us and indeed the party towards any socio-political or electoral win.
“We, therefore, have decided not to back Omoleye Sowore or support his candidacy for president.
“We will be making our choice of presidential candidate known to our supporters and Nigerians in a few days time as consultations are ongoing, where we will declare our strategic support and alliance with a candidate we consider has a vision that aligns with ours in changing the current narrative in this country.”
While deploring the current sufferings of Nigerians and the parlous state of the economy, they urged President Muhammadu Buhari to keep to use the last opportunity to redeem himself and his government as well as keep his promise on leaving behind a legacy of free and fair elections.
The group encouraged all stakeholders and Nigerians to always respect the rule of law and commit themselves to free and fair elections.
Some of the gubernatorial candidates were; who addressed the press conference included Iboro Robert Oru, Akwa Ibom; Aliyu Ahmed, Kwara state; Ray Ken, Enugu state; Mojeed Kehinde Okedara, Oyo state; Aliyu Adamu, Gombe state.
When contacted, Sowore said “the party has expelled four of governorship candidates and we notified the media since.”
He alleged that they were negotiating to sell their tickets, some to PDP and some to APC.
