By NDUBUISI ORJI

Former governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, has said he is not contesting next month’s senatorial election for Abia North.

Kalu stated this in a state­ment yesterday, in reaction to his listing by the Independent National Electoral Commis­sion (INEC) as the candidate of the Progressive Peoples Al­liance (PPA) for Abia North senatorial district in Abia State.

The former governor said he remained committed to the promise he made to President Goodluck Jonathan, to be a committed member of the Peo­ples Democratic Party (PDP) and work for his re-election as president in the February 14 presidential poll.

He explained that one of his aides had filed his papers with the PPA as a contestant for the Abia North Senatorial District without his consent, while he was away in London last De­cember.

The statement read: “My at­tention has been drawn to news that made the rounds today (yesterday), in both print and electronic media, that I would be the candidate of the Progres­sive Peoples Alliance (PPA) in the February National Assem­bly elections.

“According to the statement credited to the Independent National Electoral Commis­sion (INEC), my name was on the list as candidate of PPA for Abia North Senatorial District. Yes, I had a special affinity with the PPA, as I was one of the founding fathers of the par­ty, and even stood on its plat­form in the 2007 presidential election, but since I formally returned to the Peoples Demo­cratic Party (PDP), a party where I was also a co-founder and financier, I had been fully committed to the PDP.

“Nigerians would re call that sometime in December 2014, I had a meeting with Presi­dent Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, at the Presidential Villa. At the par­ley, the president appealed to me not to leave the party again, despite the injustices meted to me by the Abia State chapter of the party. No primaries held in Abia, delegates were just hand­picked, thereby excluding any­body who was not in the camp of the governor, Chief T.A Orji , from any political aspiration.

“After the meeting with the president, I told the media that I was satisfied with the outcome. What I meant was that I have given my word to the president, the PDP national chairman, and to other key stakeholders, that I would then stay in the party.

“From December 18, 2014, I travelled to London and did not return till January 8, this year. It was while I was away that one of my aides, without authorisation, filed my papers with PPA. We may say he did that in his eagerness to see me serve the people in my senato­rial district, but it is something we would sort out in-house, since he should have first ob­tained my consent. I hereby reiterate the promise I had made to President Goodluck Jonathan that I would remain in PDP and work for his re-election.

“I will not go back on my words. Therefore, I won’t be part of the race into the Senate on the platform of PPA. I am not afraid of running, either I win or lose, but I am fully in PDP and will remain there. I will not disobey the president, who had asked me to stay in the party. That is where I stand.”