President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has joined the crowd of aspirants jostling to pick the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential ticket to fly the party’s flag in 2023 general election
Lawan said his main objective of seeking to be President is to improve on President Muhammadu Buhari’s achievements.
Surrounded by Deputy President of the Senate, Omo-Agege, chairman of Senate’s Committee on Appropriation, Jibril Barau, Senator Sabi Abdullahi and a host of others, Lawan expressed the belief that he would win the presidential primary election of his party and move ahead to win the general election next year.
The nomination form was obtained on his behalf from the APC earlier by a group of supporters led by Sam Nkire.
Nkire had told reporters that his group had the approval of Lawan to obtain the form.
“We are not here on our own, we have his backing. Even though friends and brothers contributed to purchase this form for him but he has given us the go ahead”, said Nkire.
He said there was nothing wrong for the APC to pick its presidential candidate from the North if the PDP did so.
Lawan in his acceptance speech said,
“Over the last seven years, we have been participants in the administration of our country at the national level of All Progressive Congress, APC. Our President, Muhammadu Buhari will be completing his tenure on May 29, 2023.
“I want to pay special tribute to what the President and APC administration have done so far for the development of our country.
“I have listened to various calls from all parts of our dear nation, Nigeria for me to show interest to run for the office of the president of Nigeria.
“I took my time to pray to almighty God to guide me. I took my time to consult very widely Nigerians from all parts of the country to ensure that I get the understanding of the citizens of this country on whose behalf we will by the grace of God win the election and run the administration.
“Nigeria needs to be taken to th next level, we know what we have been able to achieve as an administration and as a political party and we know where we are supposed to take this level to eventually.
“I want to commit myself to this call and to this movement of Nigerians from all works of life, rich, poor,North, South, East, West, Male, female, young and old. This is not my journey it is our journey.
“This is our journey because every hand must be on deck for us to achieve exactly what we need to achieve”
He said though he is joining the race lately and the field is already full of other aspirants, “I want to at this point assure Nigerians that the APC is a very beautiful bride and that is why we have many aspirants.
“I will play the game by the rules. I am not going to circumvent any rule, I am going to respect my party and listen to the leaders of this party because that is our platform in the first place.”
He however indicated that he will spare no moment going from door to door to ensure that he get the votes when the national convention to elect the presidential candidate for our party will hold.
“I place my trust fully, totally and completely in the Almighty God that he will bless us, bless this movement and this journey.”
He also appealed to all Nigerians that they are seriously committed to taking Nigeria to the next level from where it is today or where it will be from the 29th of may 2023.
“It will be at a very solid point then only needing to be improved and consolidated.”