Former Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, has declared his intention to contest for the president in the 2023 general election
Senator Okorocha’s intention was stated in a letter read by Senate President Ahmed Lawan on the floor of the upper legislative chamber Tuesday.
Okorocha is the third chieftain of the APC to declare the intention to run for the presidency after Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former Governor of Lagos and Dave Umahi, Ebonyi State Governor.
Unlike Okorocha, both Tinubu and Umahi disclosed their presidential ambition when they visited President Muhammadu Buhari at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.
Contacted on why he did not go to the Villa to inform the president as done by others, Okorocha’s mobile phone was not reachable but one of his closed aides told a source that the former Imo governor would soon intimate President Buhari of his intention to succeed him.
The aide, who preferred not to be named because he was not authorised to speak, said being a serving senator, Okorocha decided to inform his colleagues first before others.
Okorocha made his first outing 20 years ago as a presidential aspirant under the platform of ANPP with Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, Chief Nnia Nwodo and Chief Harry Akande.
Again in 2007, he ran under the platform of PDP coming second to President Umaru Musa Yar’adua where the likes of Prof Jerry Gana, Gen. Aliyu Gusau and Gen. Buba Marwa were contestants.
In the letter dated January 25, Okorocha also informed his colleagues of a proposed World Press Conference to formally inform Nigerians of his presidential ambition.
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