Six presidential aspirants of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have stepped down for another aspirant and the former Governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu.
Mr. Akpabio was the first to announce he was withdrawing when he got on the podium at the APC’s Special National Convention Tuesday to address the delegates.
“I have seen a man who is older than me and who is the first visioner in governance and that man enabled us to have good governance in Lagos State and also to have the development we have in Lagos State today,” he said.
“So, Mr. President, I would have delivered a very powerful speech today on my manifest which includes three major items – that of security, that of unity of the country, and that of the economy of the country, which involves infrastructure.
“And as a man who is known as the governor that turned boys into men, I would have said, ‘Yes indeed, I would have done so’, but I don’t have to do so by being president.
“I will join the next president to turn the boys in Nigeria into men. Therefore, I doff my hat and urge you that as I withdraw now, vote for Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu.”
He then called on the delegates to vote for Tinubu.
“The 93 delegates from Akwa Ibom. The hundreds of delegates from across Nigeria, the 1,200 delegates that were ready to put me in office, I urge you, I plead with you to unite our party,” he said to thunderous applause.
Three other aspirants – Senator Ibikunle Amosun, Governor Kayode Fayemi, and Governor Abubakar Badaru – followed suit by announcing they were stepping down for Asiwaju Tinubu.
Two other presidential aspirants, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole; and Senator Ajayi Borofice who had earlier addressed delegates came back to the podium to say they would be withdrawing for Asiwaju Tinubu.
The presidential primary is taking place at Eagle Square in Abuja.
