I did not withdraw from presidential race ― Umahi

Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, has debunked rumours circulating the social media that he withdrew from the presidential contest under the All Progressives Congress (APC) in order to represent Ebonyi South Senatorial District in the Senate.

According to him, the rumour coming from opposition politicians is empty as the hallmarks of leadership excellence recorded by his government in the state have put him forward as a frontline presidential material that can win the hearts of Nigerians in the 2023 general elections.

Governor Umahi stated this in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Barr. Uchenna Orji, and made available to newsmen in Abakaliki on Tuesday.

The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to a senseless falsehood being irresponsibly shared on social media platforms by opposition forces and mischievous minds who are idly making mendacious propaganda against the presidential ambition of the Governor of Ebonyi State, His Excellency Engr Chief David Nweze Umahi FNSE FNATE (Akubaraoha).

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“Contrary to their cowardly fabrications against the well-thought and nationally-accepted presidential ambition of Governor Umahi, we restate for the pleasure of progressive Nigerians home and in the diaspora that the falsehood trending currently on social media that Governor Umahi has dropped his ambition for Senate is nothing but the empty and vaunting architecture of political charlatans who are intimidated by the tall and admirable hallmarks of leadership excellence recorded by Governor Umahi and which has put him forward as a frontline presidential material that can win the hearts of Nigerians in 2023 general election. Governor Umahi’s presidential ambition is unwavering and is alive in the hearts of Nigerians.

“We advise the opposition forces and their agents to desist from all these fruitless and bizarre orchestrations against God’s servant and accomplished leader, for that is bringing more ostracism to their own organisms. We assure them that no matter the secrecy and potency of their plots, God will bring it to nought as we come in the name of God.

“We shall not hesitate in exposing the identities of the paid jobbers and their principals who have taken to social media to escalate fake news and false information aimed at undermining the presidential ambition of Governor Umahi.”