Ahead of the Kogi State’s primary election for the governorship of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Governor Yahaya Bello has declared Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, the state’s Auditor-General, as his preferred candidate.
As a result, the governor’s Chief of Staff, Alhaji Mohammed Abdulkareem Asuku, a pharmacist; and Deputy Governor Edward Onoja withdrew from the race.
This was announced at the stakeholders’ meeting of the party held on Thursday in Lokoja.
The meeting was held at the party’s secretariat and hosted by the governor, Onoja and Asuku announced their withdrawal from the governorship race via their respective verified Facebook pages shortly after the meeting.
Onoja 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”.
For his part, Asuku, who was also seen as a frontrunner in the race, 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 the same who has safeguarded 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 11th November election”.
In a similar development, other aspirants including a former Commissioner for Finance, David Adebanji Jimoh; Asiwaju Ashiru Idris; Okala Yakubu; and Momoh Jubril also withdrew from the governorship race.
However, the Chairman of the Primary Election Committee, Zamfara State Governor Mohammed Bello Matawale said that all other aspirants who had not withdrawn from the race are free to participate in Friday’s primary to be held across the state.
