Orji Kalu disowns list naming him as DG of Lawan campaign organisation

Orji Uzor Kalu, chief whip of the senate, says a list naming him as director-general of the Ahmad Lawan Campaign Organisation should be disregarded.

On Thursday, Kalu was named director-general of the organisation and Femi Fani-Kayode, former aviation minister, as deputy spokesman in a statement reportedly issued by the media office of the campaign.

But in a statement, the former governor of Abia said a campaign organisation will be inaugurated if the senate president is elected candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He said he will recommend a sitting governor who is not running for an election as chairman of the campaign because he is seeking reelection as senator.

“My attention has been drawn to a list of committee Chairmen of Ahmad Lawan Campaign Organization in which I was also mentioned as the Director-General,” Kalu said.

“The list should be disregarded as no authorization was given to the effect of its publication.

“As the chairman of the meeting held at my instance, it is important to notify the general public that we are not yet in the Campaign proper. A committee will be inaugurated to that effect once our most preferred candidate, Senator Ahmad Lawan emerges as the presidential candidate of APC.

“I am also running for election in my senatorial district and would rather recommend a sitting governor who is not running for an election to chair the campaign team at the right time .

“Several private visitors who were not even part of the meeting were also reported to have been in attendance. Senator Betty Apiafi just as Senator Uche Ekwunife who visited on a different bipartisan matter concerning the senate was also mentioned.

“It is mischief to have included these names as part of Ahmad Lawan Campaign Organization.”

But a source told TheCable that a meeting was held where the campaign council list was drawn up, but that Kalu distanced himself  from the list because the names were made public.

“The list was not meant to be made public yet,” the source said.

Also, Bartholomew Ugwoke, an APC chieftain, has denied belonging to South-East Front, a group backing Lawan for the presidential ticket.

The group had advised the ruling party to pick Lawan since the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chose former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate.

“I have read with dismay an advertorial placed by the APC South-East Front supporting the candidature of the Senate President Ahmad Lawan for the presidential ticket of APC, with my name on the Enugu list,” he said.

“I must say sincerely that there was no time I was consulted by the coordinator or any member of the Front for my consent.

“As a director in the national headquarters of our party, I understand that there are limitations on my support for party aspirants.”