Kingsley Moghalu, a former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to pursue his presidential ambition.
Moghalu announced his decision at a media briefing on Friday.
The former CBN deputy governor was the presidential candidate of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) in the 2019 elections — he resigned his membership of the party in October 2019.
The former YPP candidate had, in June, declared his intention to contest the 2023 presidential election.
Speaking on his decision to join ADC, Moghalu said the party’s policies align with his ideologies.
“I am pleased to announce to you today that I have joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which I feel ideologically aligned with. I am honoured to become a card-carrying member of the party,” he said.
“In doing so, I restate my public announcement on June 1, 2021, making myself available to lead our country as a competent 21st century president, and my intention to contest in the 2023 presidential election.
“I look forward to close collaboration with the party’s chairman, chief Ralph Okey Nwosu; alhaji Said Abdullahi, the ADC national secretary, the national executive committee, chair of its board of trustees, among others.”
Moghalu said his desire is to make Nigeria the envy of other nations if he becomes the president.
According to him, since the ADC was founded in 2005, the party has remained consistent in its commitment to the emergence of true democracy in Nigeria and to the role of belief, passion and idea in nation building.
“The party has shunned ‘food-is-ready’ and divisive ethno-centric politics,’’ Moghalu said, adding that the ADC remains a key player in the efforts to create a new and bigger platform through the merger of several political parties to take over power in 2023 and rebuild the country.
He also said he is part of a group of individuals and political parties working towards the emergence of a ‘third force’ in the country’s political space.
“For the party’s growth and expansion in the months ahead, I ask all my political supporters, including those aspiring to be elected to gubernatorial positions and the national and state legislatures, to join the ADC,’’ Moghalu added.
