Kogi State deputy governor, Edward Onoja, and the Chief of Staff to Governor Yahaya Bello, Pharm. Mohammed Abdulkareem Asuku, have withdrawn from the governorship primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The APC had fixed its governorship primary election for Friday, April 14, 2023.
This is coming after a critical stakeholders meeting hosted by the state governor, Yahaya Bello, at the State headquarters of the APC in Lokoja on Thursday, where the Governor allegedly unveiled his preferred candidate, a former Auditor-general of the State, Ahmed Usman Ododo.
Chairman of the primary election committee and Zamfara State Governor, Mohammed Bello-Matawale, confirmed the development after Thursday’s meeting.
Matawale said other aspirants who have not withdrawn from the race are free to participate in Friday’s primary to be held across the state.
“All other aspirants who have not withdrawn from the race are free to participate in Friday’s direct primary election to be held across the state.
“The gentlemanly agreement was reached and announced at a stakeholders meeting of the party held on Thursday, in Lokoja”, he said.
Meanwhile, Onoja and Asuku have announced their withdrawal from the governorship race via their respective verified Facebook pages shortly after the meeting in Lokoja.
The deputy governor, Onoja’s message on Facebook read: “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.”
For his part, the governor’s Chief of Staff, 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 creator 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 has 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 a similar development, other aspirants including David Adebanji Jimoh; a former Commissioner for Finance, Asiwaju Ashiru Idris; Okala Yakubu, and Momoh Jubril have also withdrawn from the governorship race.
