Dr. Abubakar AlkaliA Presidential aspirant in the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abubakar Alkali has withdrawn from the contest, complaining of what he called outrageous cost of the nomination form.
Dr. Alkali, at a news conference in Abuja today, Friday, said that the N45 Million fixed for the purchase of the nomination form by the party “is outrageous and it is one of the reasons I withdrew.
“I think the cost of the form is outrageous and also do not depict the ethics of our democracy. Actually, the cost of this form, to me, stopped sincere and genuine aspirants from aspiring for the office and is not in tandem with the maxim of the NotTooYoungToRun movement.
“A lot of the youths who have sincere concern for this country cannot afford this outrageous cost.
“I appeal to our party, going forward, to look at this issue very seriously.”
Dr. Alkali however endorsed President Muhammadu Buhari for the post, adding that since the party has decided to give the ticket to the President, he has no option, as a loyal party man than to abide by the party’s decision.
He called on his supporters to join hands with the current administration to continue in its job of delivering on democracy dividends to Nigerians, while also asking the leadership of APC do something about the cost of nomination forms, saying such has deprived so many young aspirants with good ideal which would have better the nation.
“The purpose of this press conference is that i am here to announce my withdrawal from the contest for the office of the president and the reasons for the withdrawal are not far fetched.
“Majorly, one of the reasons is that the APC has picked president Muhammadu Buhari has its sole consensus candidate for the 2019 general election, and as a loyal party member, I have to go by the rule and dictate of the party and that is the why I am aligning fully and totally with the position of our great party, and I fully support the decision to pick Mr. President as a consensus candidate of our great party.”
