AfDB head Akinwumi Adesina backs out of 2023 presidential race

President of the African Development Bank, Akinwumi Adesina, has declared that he has no interest in running for the office of the president of Nigeria.

There have been calls for Adesina to join the presidential race ahead of the 2023 elections.

Some groups had reportedly purchased and submitted the presidential expression of interest and nomination forms of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on behalf of Adesina.

But in a statement issued on Tuesday, the AfDB president said he was not running for president.

The statement read in part, ”I have been extremely humbled by several calls from Nigerians at home and abroad that I should consider running for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I am very touched by all who have gone to great extent, with such huge sacrifices, of their own volition, to consider me worthy to be proposed for potential consideration,” he said.

”The coalition groups of youth, women, farmers, physically challenged and well-meaning Nigerians that have done this have expressed their genuine free will, political right, freedom of expression and association for my consideration, with the interest of Nigeria at heart. While I am deeply honored, humbled and grateful for all the incredible goodwill, kindness, and confidence, my current responsibilities at this time do not allow me to accept to be considered.

”I remain fully engaged and committed to the mission that Nigeria, Africa and all the non-African shareholders of the African Development Bank have given me for Africa’s development. I remain fully focused on the mission of supporting the accelerated development and economic integration of Africa. May God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”