The US President, Joe Biden, has declared that he will not be running for reelection, a move that takes the race into uncharted territory.
News About Nigeria reports that as a result, a different Democrat will now have to be selected to compete against Republican nominee Donald Trump in November in a race that has already seen conflict, discord, and an attempted assassination.
The “greatest honour of my life to serve as your president” was how he put it in a message addressed to “my fellow Americans”.
“While it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as president for the remainder of my term.”
He continued, “I will speak to the nation later this week in more detail about my decision.
“For now, let me express my deepest gratitude to all those who have worked so hard to see me reelected.
“I want to thank Vice President Kamala Harris for being an extraordinary partner in all this work. And let me express my heartfelt appreciation to the American people for the faith and trust you have placed in me.
“I believe today what I always have: that there is nothing America can’t do – when we do it together. We just have to remember we are the United States of America.”
The seismic development comes after months of speculation about Biden’s age and fitness to serve another four years – amid a series of high-profile gaffes and a disastrous debate performance.
News About Nigeria recalls that Biden, 81, had previously insisted he was best placed to defeat Trump in the upcoming election but had faced calls from within his own party to step aside.
