IBRAHIM Masari, the vice presidential nominee to the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu has withdrawn from the race.
Masari, who was in June selected as Tinubu’s running mate as a placeholder, made his resignation known in a statement on Sunday.
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The statement read, “This is to inform our esteemed party leaders under our able President Muhammadu Buhari, teeming party members and the great people of Nigeria of the outcome of a crucial discussion I just had with the flag-bearer of our great party, All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
Masari, who said it was an honour for him to have been nominated, said he has decided to step down after consultations to enable the party position itself to win the 2023 general election.
“Recall that I had the singular honour and privilege of being nominated as the running-mate to Asiwaju Tinubu last month after a keenly contested presidential primaries ahead of the 2023 general elections.
“But after much reflection and wider consultations, I now wish to step down. I realized that my decision will enable Asiwaju have more latitude to give more accommodation and inclusion that will position our party to win the coming elections, with the support of the people of Nigeria,” he said.
With Masari’s withdrawal, Tinubu is expected to unveil his substantive running mate any moment from now.
The ICIR had earlier reported Tinubu’s campaign group saying the candidate had selected his running mate.
He had also earlier today paid Sallah homage to President Muhammadu Buhari in Daura, Katsina, to brief him on his chosen running mate.
'Niyi worked with The ICIR as an Investigative Reporter and Fact-checker from 2020 till September 2022. You can shoot him an email via niyioyedeji1@gmail.com. You can as well follow him on Twitter via @niyi_oyedeji.