EBONYI, Nigeria – Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi revealed on Monday, May 8, 2023, that he is stepping down from the race for the 10th Senate’s presidency at the request of President-elect Bola Tinubu.
Tinubu, who recently secured the presidency, urged Umahi to make way for Sen. Godswill Akpabio in the interests of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the South East zone.
Speaking to reporters at the Muhammadu Buhari International Airport in Onueke, Umahi shared details of his conversation with Tinubu: “I discussed the issue with him when he was in Paris and on return to the country, he invited me. It was an honour to be invited by the president-elect and he told me that he had made commitments.”
The governor accepted Tinubu’s request in order to avoid becoming “a clog in the wheel of his progress.” Umahi believes that stepping down from the race will benefit the Southeast region, as it can no longer afford to remain in opposition: “We cannot continue opposing everything as politics is all about dialogue, give and take.”
Umahi also mentioned that he was unaware of any resolution by Southeast senators to support former Abia Governor, Sen. Orji Kalu, for the position. As the chairman of the Akpabio campaign council, he confidently stated that “we have more APC senators on our side.”
When asked about his future in politics, Governor Umahi expressed his preference for a Senate seat, but deferred to “destiny, Tinubu, and the party” in deciding his next move.
“I will accept whatever God wills for me but as a person, I will prefer to be in the senate to rest,” he said, adding that he would make any necessary sacrifices for the good of the party, the South East, and the president-elect.
