Ahead of today’s primary election in Kogi, some of the All Progression Congress (APC) aspirants have voluntarily withdrawn from the race.
Edward Onoja, deputy governor and Mohammed Abdulkareem Asuku, chief of staff to Governor Yahaya Bello, have withdrawn from the race.
This was announced at the stakeholders meeting of the party held in Lokoja, Thursday evening.
The meeting was held at the party’s secretariat and hosted by Yahaya Bello, the governor, who unveiled Ahmed Usman Ododo, auditor general of the state, as his preferred candidate.
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Meanwhile, Onoja and Asuku announced their withdrawal from the governorship race via their respective verified Facebook pages shortly after the meeting in Lokoja.
The deputy governor, Edward Onoja, whom many had thought will naturally succeed Governor Bello before now, posted a cryptic message on Facebook, which reads: “To God be the glory for life and divine health. My appreciation to my leader, Yahaya Bello and all my supporters for your love and prayers. Let love, patience and perseverance lead. I am forever grateful.”
On his part, Asuku, who was also seen as a frontrunner because of his closeness to the governor, posted: “Alhamdulillah! Alhamdulillah !! Alhamdulillah !!! All praises and adoration are due to the Most High God, the greater of the entire universe and the sustainer of same, who has safeguard my life and that of my immediate family and well wishers to witness this moment in my life.
“I sincerely appreciate His Excellency, my benefactor, for all that Allah have been using him to do in my life. As such, I hereby submit myself publicly to the decision taken today and I will forever live to remain loyal and dedicated to the decision of my party as I enjoin all my well wishers to work with us for our great party APC to become victorious in the November 11th General Election.”
In the same vein, other aspirants like David Adebanji Jimoh; a former Commissioner for Finance, Ashiru Idris; Okala Yakubu, and Momoh Jibrin have also withdrawn from the governorship race.
Mohammed Bello Matawale, Zamfara State governor and chairman of the primary election committee, has urged all other aspirants who have not withdrawn from the race to come and participate in Friday’s primary to be held across the state.
