Kwara PDP guber primary: Bolaji Abdullahi, Ajia, Ahmad, five others step down after meeting with Saraki

Eight of the 10 governorship aspirants in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kwara State chapter, withdrew from the primary election on Monday.
The eight aspirants announced their withdrawal at the resumed delegates’ conference to elect a governorship candidate for the state in Ilorin.
The primary, which was to hold on Sunday, was disrupted following an attempt to impose a candidate on the delegates.
At the resumed accreditation of delegates for the primary election, the eight aspirants announced their withdrawal from the race.
With the withdrawal of the eight governorship aspirants, the race is now between House of Representatives member, Hon. Razak Atunwa and Senator Shaba Lafiaji, representing Kwara North at the Upper Chamber.
Aspirants that withdrew their participation include Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, Prof. Suleiman Abubakar; former minister for National Planning and Alhaji Mohammed Ajia.
Others are Kwara Speaker, Dr Ali Ahmad, Hon. Haman Patigi, Alhaji Ladi Hassan, Hon. Zakari Mohammed and Alhaji Saka Isau.
Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, met with all the aspirants on Sunday night where it was resolved that the eight would withdraw from the race.
Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed thanked Saraki for his counseling and purposeful leadership “which have kept members of the party united in the state”.
He said voting had commenced and delegates were conducting themselves in orderly manner.
Over 2, 000 delegates drawn from the 16 local governments in the state would cast their votes to elect the party’s candidate for the 2019 governorship election.