No fewer than seven presidential aspirants jostling to get the ticket of the All Progressives Congress withdrew from the primary held at the Eagle Square venue of the exercise in Abuja today (Wednesday).
The exercise, which commenced around 1am, had bigwigs in the party, including most of the aspirants and about 2,203 accredited APC delegates in attendance, with high presence of security agents.
The Ekiti State governor, who doubles as the Chairman, Nigeria Governors Forum, Dr Kayode Fayemi, stepped down to endorse the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
Others who stepped down for Tinubu are former governor Godswill Akpabio; Senator Ibikunle Amosun; former Senate President, Rt. Hon. Dimeji Bankole; Jigawa State Governor, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar and Mrs Uju Kennedy.
However, Dr. Nicholas Felix stepped down for Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. As done by many of the presidential aspirants, Fayemi made the announcement at the party primary in Abuja.
The Ekiti State governor, who said that stepping down for Tinubu, an ‘elder brother,’ was not a favour but a duty, asked delegates from the state and his supporters across the country to vote for Tinubu.
Bankole said he was stepping down for Tinubu because he wants to grow old.
Voting commences soon after the aspirants withdrew from the race. Among the presidential aspirants who were at the venue are Senator Bola Tinubu, Senator Ahmad Lawan, Senator Ahmed Sani Yerima, Senator Ben Ayade, Governor Dave Umahi, Senator Ken Nnamani, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, Pastor Tunde Bakare and Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi.
Others are Senator Rochas Okorocha, Jack Rich, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, Chief Ike Obasi and Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.
Emeka Nwajuiba was absent during the exercise.
