Ahead of today’s primary election of the All Progressives Congress in Ondo State, another aspirant, Mr. Derin Adesida yesterday withdrew from the race to clinch the ticket of the party.
Adesida, who represented Akure South/Akure North federal constituency between 2007 and 2011 at the House of Representatives lawmaker said he opted out of the race in order to support another aspirant, Dr. Segun Abraham.
He said he took the decision after extensive consultation with some leaders and members of his political family.
Earlier, two other aspirants Dr. Paul Akintelure and Mr. Akinyinka Akinlola also announced their withdrawal from the race on Wednesday.
Akintelure, was the running mate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) governorship candidate Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN in 2012 election, while Akinlola, is the son of the late Lisa of Ondo Kingdom, High Chief Bayo Akinlola and they both threw their weights behind Mr. Segun Abraham.
In a statement signed by head of media and Publicity of Derin Adesida Campaign Organisation (DACO) Mr. Adeyemi Lebimoyo said the former lawmaker has decided to sacrifice his ambition because of his regard for the leadership of the party.
“Being a very strong politician from Akure, Adesida is poised to make winning easy for the APC in his town. Adesida is still ever formidable and a force to reckon with in Akure political circle. Stepping down from the race is to allow for the process to present our candidate to be less stressful
“While I know that some of my delegates who are battle ready to see that we clinch this ticket may be disappointed, I want to implore them to understand that party interest must override our personal ambitions. Clustered aspirations may hinder our party from taking over the Alagbaka government house.”
The development has reduced the number of aspirants from 24 to 21.