Jonathan, Emefiele drop out of APC race, AfDB's Adesina, 24 others in
Central Bank governor Godwin Emefiele and former President Goodluck Jonathan failed to submit the nomination forms of the All Progressives Congress by deadline on Friday.
But 25 others beat the deadline, in readiness for screening and primary on 30 May.
Among those who submitted their forms on time, are Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; President African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr Akinwunmi Adesina; former Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu and Senate President Ahmad Lawan.
Others are former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; former Minister of Niger Delta Development, Sen. Godswill Akpabio; former Imo State governor, Sen. Rochas Okorocha; and former Ogun State governor, Sen. Ibikunle Amosun.
Others who complied with the deadline are: Pastor Tunde Bakare; Cross River State governor, Prof. Ben Ayade; his Ebonyi State counterpart, Gov. Dave Umahi; Chairman, Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) and Ekiti State governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; Minister of State, Education, Emeka Nwajiuba; former Senate President, Sen. Ken Nnamani; Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello; Jigawa State Governor Mohammed Badaru Abubakar and former Zamfara State governor, Sen. Ahmed Yerima.
Also on the list of presidential aspirants that filed their papers were Senator Ajayi Borroffice; the only female aspirant, Mrs Uju Kennedy Ohnenye; Pastor Nicholas Felix Nwagbo; former House of Representative Speaker Dimeji Bankole; former Minister of State, Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva; former Minister of Information, Chief Ikeobasi Mokelu; and Mr Tein Jack Rich.
But as at 9p.m, Emefiele and Jonathan’s agents were not at the APC national secretariat to submit their forms.
Emefiele, during a visit to President Buhari on Thursday, told reporters to ‘expect news’.
He said he was having fun with speculations about his presidential ambition and that his traducers may have heart attacks.
Published By: PM NEWS Editor
Malami Pulls Out Of Kebbi Governorship Race
Abubakar Malami, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, has pulled out of the race to succeed Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State.
After months of speculations, the Minister joined the race last month, appealing to the people for support.
APC executives in the ward and local government had pledged their support to the minister.
Shortly after, some associates of the minister received exotic cars as gifts. Many of the beneficiaries were workers at the Khadimiyya for Justice and Development Initiative, a foundation he established.
This had triggered backlash as some said it was a move to get Malami soft landing ahead of the APC governorship primaries.
But on Friday night, Daily Trust gathered that the minster, who was among those President Muhammadu Buhari bade farewell at Aso Rock earlier in the day, had opted out of the race.
Sources close to the minister told Daily Trust that Malami had withdrawn from the race.
When contacted, Umar Gwandu, his media aide, simply said, “I have not been officially briefed.”
Buhari had ordered his appointees with interest in the 2023 election to step down.
Also, the Minister of Labour, Dr Chris Ngige has pulled out of the presidential race. Ngige declared that after consultation with his supporters and constituents he had decided to withdraw from the race to enable him concentrate on the current challenges of his office and to help the Buhari administration finish strong.
Source: Daily Trust