Kingsley Moghalu says he has opted out of the 2023 electoral cycle and will not run on any other political platform, following his failure to clinch the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential ticket.
“I have opted not to be a candidate in this electoral cycle,” Mr Moghalu said in a statement. “At this time, I have no plans to become a member of any other political party for the purpose of the 2023 general elections.”
Mr Moghalu, a former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, was the presidential candidate of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) in the 2019 elections but defected to ADC in the build-up to the 2023 party primaries to pursue his presidential aspiration.
After losing the ADC primaries to Dumebi Kachikwu, the economist resigned from the party on June 8, in Abeokuta, Ogun.
Mr Moghalu said several invitations had been extended to him by several political parties to be a presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections.
“However, I intend to remain keenly engaged in our country’s immediate future, including the elections, with contributions that are appropriate and can be helpful to nation-building,” he said.
According to him, many political associates, supporters and other Nigerians have wondered over the past couple of weeks what his next steps will be since he resigned from ADC membership after the party’s recent presidential primaries.
Mr Moghalu said his campaign was always based on a vision for Nigeria as set out in his manifesto book, Build, Innovate and Grow (BIG), and a desire to serve, “not on any inordinate personal ambition.”
“For those supporters and the general public who have intended to vote for me as a presidential candidate in the general elections had I emerged as one, I ask you to cast your support and ballot in the 2023 election to the candidate that comes closest to our shared vision of a Nigeria that is secured, united, and prosperous.
“The best chance to achieve this vision is under transformative leadership that represents a break from the old political order,” he said.
NAN