Jimi Agbaje withdraws from chairmanship race

dimeji akinloye

December 9, 2017 11:54 AM

Agbaje's withdrawal comes barely 24 hours after another PDP chieftain, Chief Bode George dropped out of the race.

Former Lagos State governorship aspirant, Mr.

Agbaje made the announcement in a statement posted on twitter less than one hour ago but dated Friday, December 8.

His withdrawal comes barely 24 hours after another PDP chieftain, Chief Bode George dropped out of the race.

According to him, he is withdrawing from the race to increase the chances of a winner emerging from the South-West geo-political zone.

A total of nine candidates are vying for the position, with 7 of them from the South West.

Agbaje said the number would work against the zone, urging other candidates from the South West to pull out of the race in order to cut the number down to just two.

The statement reads:

"Our great party, The Peoples Democratic Party has from inception, adopted certain principles of zoning which have evenly balanced offices amongst the country’s geo-political zones. In line with such zoning and other parameters I have, at different fora, expressed my strong belief that the next National Chairman of our great party should come from the South West.

I am however convinced that with 7 out of all 9 aspirants coming from the South West, this multiplicity of contenders will work to the detriment of our zone when it comes to voting. Delegates’ votes split 7 ways will not produce a chairman from the South West. It, therefore, becomes necessary to prune our numbers down to no more than two.

With less than 24 hours to the convention, I have painfully decided to withdraw from the race hoping that others will join me in bringing down the number such that the South West can have a fighting chance of clinching the National Chairmanship of the PDP.

The support from serving & past governors, senators, members of the House of Representatives, women, youth and opinion leaders has been tremendous. While sincerely thanking them for their unflinching loyalty, I empathize with the great disappointment they must feel at this decision. I plead that we all put the overall interest of PDP first.

I pledge my support to whoever emerges as the national chairman as determined at the national convention.

Kindly take this letter as my formal notice of withdrawal from the race for National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party".

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Delegates and the national chairmanship aspirants, including Chief Raymond Dokpesi are said to have arrived the Eagles Square for the PDP convention.

dimeji akinloye