2023: Adesina Withdraws From The Presidential Race 

Adesina believes that his existing obligations will prevent him from running for president.

By Omotayo Olutekunbi

President of the African Development Bank, Akinwunmi Adesina, has stated that he would not run for president in 2023.

Adesina made the announcement in a statement on Tuesday, May 17, 2022, only days after certain parties acquired the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential nomination papers for him for N100 million.

Former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, who thanked the organisations for purchasing the forms, said his present obligations prevent him from running for president.

The statement reads, “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.

“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.”

Adesina is now serving as President of the African Development Bank for the second time (AfDB).

On August 27, 2020, during the bank’s 55th Annual Meetings, he was re-elected to the post.