Bolaji Abdullahi, Seven Others Withdraw from Kwara PDP Guber Race

Ben Bruce withdraws from primary election

A former spokesman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, has withdrawn from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary in Kwara State.

This is coming as the Senator representing Bayelsa East senatorial district of Bayesla State, Ben Murray Bruce, has withdrawn his ambition to return to the Senate for a second term in 2019.

Abdullahi, a former minister, was among the eight PDP aspirants who withdrew from the exercise. The other seven aspirants include: Ali Ahmad, Saka Isau, Ladi Hassan, Ibrahim Kaia, Abubakar Anani, Zakari Mohammed and Ahman Pategi.

Their withdrawal facilitated the emergence of a member of House of Representatives from Kwara Central, Hon. Razak Atunwa, who defeated the Senator representing Kwara North, Sha’aba Lafiagi.

All the aspirants except Abdullahi announced their withdrawal at the venue of the primary.

Abdullahi was said to have been pressured to step down.

The state Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed said the eight aspirants withdrew from the race in the party’s interest.

“I thank the state’s political leader, Dr Bukola Saraki for his wise counselling and purposeful leadership which have so far kept members of the PDP united in Kwara State,” he said.

In a related development, the Senator representing Bayelsa East senatorial district of Bayesla State, Ben Murray Bruce, has withdrawn his ambition to return to the Senate for a second term in 2019.

The Senator withdrew following widespread rejection of his candidacy by the stakeholders of the district.

In a letter written on the eve of the senatorial primaries of the PDP, Bruce thanked his district for giving him the opportunity to serve.