Ezekwesili scores 7,223 votes despite withdrawal from presidential poll

Oby Ezekwesili

Despite her withdrawal from the race, the former presidential candidate of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), Oby Ezekwesili, polled 7,223 votes in Saturday’s presidential election.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had earlier on Wednesday declared President Muhammadu Buhari winner of the presidential election.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, said Mr Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) polled 15,191,847 votes to defeat his main challenger, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who scored 11,255,978 votes.

Mrs Ezekwesili withdrew from the race days to the botched presidential election citing lack of support for her vision by the ACPN leadership.

The party, led by its national chairman, Abdul-Ganiyu Galadima, who was also Ezekwesili’s running mate, quickly refuted her claims and accused her of pursuing a personal agenda.

The party then endorsed Buhari as its presidential candidate.

INEC had also said Ezewkwesili’s withdrawal had come too late and that it was not possible for the commission to substitute her name on the presidential list.