2023: I Won't Support Any Presidential Candidate - Ngige

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige says he will not campaign or support any presidential candidate in the upcoming 2023 election.

Ngige, a member of the All Progressives Congress, APC, stated that the four front-runners for the presidency are his friends and that he will not campaign for or against any of them.

The Minister stated this to journalists on Wednesday at his country home in Alor.

He urged Nigerians to examine the candidates' platforms to determine which was superior to the other, and then vote wisely.

When asked which of the candidates he believes will win the election, Ngige said he does not want to predict, insisting Nigerians should be able to choose who they want to be their president.

Giving an account of his personal relationship with each of the frontline presidential candidates, Ngige said: "Malam Kwankwaso is my friend; I know him as deputy speaker when he was deputizing Agunwa Anekwe, one of our party's strong men.

"Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Vice President (former) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, was in charge when I was 'kidnapped,' or pushed out of office.

"He was standing in for Mr President (Obasanjo), who was in Maputo, and he ordered the Inspector General of Police then, to reinstate me to office.

"As Vice President of the National Economic Council, I also worked with him on the economic team. So, I know him, he's a friend of mine, and we also co-founded AC.

"Peter Obi, my brother, my successor and my everything, I know him too and he is a friend. So, how do I go about campaigning against any of them?

"Bola Ahmed Tinubu, my friend again - encouraging. We formed AC together during difficult times. Under the auspices and platform of the ACN, I became the known opposition Senator in the Eastern Region. So he's not someone I'm unfamiliar with."