This comes ahead of the All Progressives Congress governorship primary election in Kogi State scheduled for Friday.
The Kogi State Deputy Governor, Edward Onoja and the Chief of Staff to Governor Yahaya Bello, Mohammed Abdulkareem Asuku, have withdrawn from the governorship race.
This comes ahead of the All Progressives Congress governorship primary election in Kogi State scheduled for Friday.
Meanwhile, Governor Yahaya Bello has endorsed the Auditor-General of the state, Ahmed Ododo, as his preferred candidate.
This was announced at the stakeholders' meeting of the party held on Thursday in Lokoja.
Onoja and Asuku reportedly announced their withdrawal from the governorship race via their respective verified Facebook pages shortly after the meeting in Lokoja.
SaharaReporters’ check on Onoja’s Facebook page showed that after the meeting, 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.”
Sources told SaharaReporters that the deputy governor might work against Bello’s candidate.
“There's another guy that's really giving them a tough time; if the primaries will be free, then Yahaya Bello’s candidate won't get it because people are just getting to know about the governor’s candidate on Thursday.
“There are speculations that Edward might fall out with Bello before tomorrow morning and work against Yahaya Bello's candidate. There's another feeler that Yahaya Bello wants the current Kogi East Senator to be the running mate to his candidate while they will work it out for Edward Onoja to go to the Senate,” one of the top sources said.
On the other hand, Asuku wrote, “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.”
Also, the state’s former finance commissioner, Mr David Adebanji Jimoh, Asiwaju Ashiru Idris, Okala Yakubu and Momoh Jubril have also reportedly withdrawn from the governorship race.