The main female presidential candidate in Nigeria’s upcoming election and founder of #BringBackOurGirls Oby Ezekwesili has withdrawn from the race.
Oby who was running with the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), in a statement said that she has pulled out in order to help build a coalition that will defeat the ruling party All Progressive Congress (APC) and the main oppositin Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Her withdrawal has left the sitting president Muhammad Buhari and Atiku Abubakar the main competitors for the high office. The move comes when the general elections are shy of 22 days.
“I have decided to step down from the presidential race and focus on helping to build a coalition for a viable alternative to the #APCPDP in the February 16, 2019 general elections,” she said in a statement.
“Over the past three months I have been in private extended talks with other candidates to make a coalition possible that would allow Nigerians to exercise choice without feeling helplessly saddled,” she added.
“I have decided that it is now necessary to show by action and example my determination on this issue by stepping down my candidacy and focusing on building the coalition once and for all.”
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“We have no more time to waste. Let’s get to work!” Said Ezekwesili
Ms Ezekwesili has served as a two-time minister in Nigeria and has also worked as the Vice President of Africa at the World Bank. In 2014 she was picked as one of the BBC’s 100 Women.
Her decision has stirred mixed response from her followers online with others supporting her and others angry terming it a late decision.
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