Kogi deputy governor Onoja, 7 others withdraw from guber race as Gov. Bello unveils anointed candidate

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Friday’s governorship primary election of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Kogi took a dramatic turn on Thursday as the deputy governor, Edward Onoja, stepped down for the state’s Auditor-General, Ahmed Ododo.

Seven other aspirants, including a former Commissioner for Finance, David Adebanji-Jimoh, Ashiru Idris and Okala Yakubu, also stepped down following Mr Ododo’s endorsement by Gov. Yahaya Bello.

Others are Abdulkareem Asuku, chief of staff to the governor and the state’s accountant-general, Momoh Jibrin.

The News Agency of Nigeria gathered that eight aspirants voluntarily withdrew from the race at a meeting held at the party’s secretariat in Lokoja on Thursday and presided over by Gov. Bello.

Chairman of the primary election committee, Gov. Mohammed Bello-Matawale of Zamfara confirmed the development after Thursday’s meeting.

“All other aspirants who have not withdrawn from the race are free to participate in Friday’s direct primary election to be held across the state.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 gentleman agreement was reached and announced at a stakeholders meeting of the party held on Thursday in Lokoja,” he said.

Mr Matawalle said the governor, who hosted the meeting, unveiled his anointed candidate in the person of Mr Ododo.

While announcing his withdrawal from the race, Mr Onoja thanked the governor and all his supporters for their love and prayers.

Mr Onoja enjoined his supporters to allow love, patience and perseverance to lead at Friday’s primary election and at the November 11 governorship election in the state.

NAN