Dr Jean Ping, the Chairperson of the AU Commission, on Wednesday said he was still in the run for re-election for the Commission’s highest job.?
Ping told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Correspondent in Addis Ababa that he was in the race because of his belief in the AU and the unity and development of the continent.
“I am in the race because I believe in the African Union, and would appreciate the opportunity to finish the work we have been doing in the last four years.
“I am still in the race and gratefully look forward to the wholesome support of the majority of the leaders of the AU Member States,’’? Ping said.
?He thanked his President,? Ali Bango of Gabon, the government and people of? Gabon for their individual and collective support during the January deadlocked election and also their collective support towards the July 15, 2012 election.
He said described his candidature as that of Gabon and the entire African continent and said that he had not received any financial or other support from any non-African power as being circulated.
“This election is an African Union matter and will be decided by African Union Member States.
“I refuse to lower the moral threshold for this campaign and hope that all involved in the election will also conduct a clean and decent campaign that brings honour and sets a great example of democratic competition for the entire continent,’’ Ping said.
NAN reports that African Heads of States and Government would on Saturday, during the 19th AU Summit, elect a new Chairperson of the Commission which pitted Ping against? South Africa’s Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.
Attempt to elect the leadership for the Commission in January failed following the failure of any of the candidates to secure the required two-thirds of the votes.