Ezekwesili used us to lobby for finance minister’s job, ACPN dumps candidate, backs Buhari

Oby Ezekwesili

The Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) has withdrawn its support for its presidential candidate, Oby Ezekwesili, backing President Muhammadu Buhari in her stead.

The ACPN was reacting to a decision Thursday morning by Mrs Ezekwesili to withdraw from the presidential election.

“The Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) is withdrawing support for her presidentia| aspiration and endorsing the second term bid of President Muhammadu Buhari to take Nigeria to the next level,” the party said in a statement on Thursday.

Ezekwesili had said that her decision was to help build a coalition to defeat the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

This decision, she said, was taken despite resistance from her party.

The ACPN, in a press statement made available to journalists during a press briefing in Abuja, said her action was taken without consulting the party.

The party also accused Ezekwesili of using it as a platform to negotiate to be Nigeria’s finance minister.

The statement was signed by its national chairman and running mate of Ezekwesili, Gani Galadima, its national secretary, Paul Isamade, and other officials.

The party also accused Mrs Ezekwesili of opening several accounts in the name of the party and her campaign without the knowledge of the party.

It urged her to return all properties and donations received.

When asked if the party had an idea how much she got, the secretary of the party, Mr Isamade, revealed she admitted to the party about a month ago that she got $5000 and N35 million from local donations.

He also said she opened up to have spent N29 million so far.

Ezekwesili had said in her statement on Thursday morning that she would provide details of her campaign expenses.