The Kogi State Deputy Governor, Edward Onoja, and the Chief of Staff to Governor Yahaya Bello, Mohammed Abdulkareem Asuku, have withdrawn from the November 11 gubernatorial election in Kogi State.
METROWATCH reports that their withdrawal from the race comes ahead of the Friday April 14 primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC), where the party will chose a flag-bearer.
It was gathered that the decision of the duo was taken at a critical stakeholders meeting of the APC hosted by Governor Yahaya Bello at the State Secretariat of the party in Lokoja on Thursday, where the governor reportedly unveiled his preferred candidate.
According to reports, Governor Bello, at the meeting, told the party stakeholders that he has chosen a former Auditor-General of the State, Ahmed Usman Ododo, as his preferred successor.
Taking to Facebook, the deputy governor, Onoja, whom many had thought will naturally succeed Governor Bello before now, thanked the state governor and his supporters for their support.
He wrote: “To God be the glory for life and divine health. My appreciation to my leader, HE Alhaji Yahaya Bello and all my supporters for your love and prayers. Let love, patience and perseverance lead. I am forever grateful.”
Similarly, the governor’s Chief of Staff, Asuku, who was also seen as a frontrunner because of his closeness to Bello, said on Facebook, that he has submitted to the wishes of the stakeholders’ meeting and remain loyal to the APC.
“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 have 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,” he wrote.
Other aspirants like Mr David Adebanji Jimoh; a former Commissioner for Finance; Asiwaju Ashiru Idris; Okala Yakubu, and Momoh Jubril were also said to have withdrawn from the governorship race.
Reacting, Chairman of the APC Primary Election Committee and Zamfara State Governor, Mohammed Matawale, said that all other aspirants who have not withdrawn from the race are free to participate in Friday’s primary of the ruling party.