The former special adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on the Niger Delta, Timi Alaibe, has withdrawn from the race for the Bayelsa State governor’s seat.

Alaibe had been expected to slug it out with former governor, Timipre Sylva, for the chance to represent the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the December 5 governorship election. His withdrawal on Wednesday morning which he ascribed to party interest, has now paved the way for Sylva to coast to victory.

In a statement issued by the aspirant and titled “For the sake of our party, I withdraw from the APC governorship primary”, Alaibe said he was sacrificing his interest in order to further strengthen and unify the APC in its bid to unseat the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Bayelsa State.

“This decision is taken in the interest of our party especially as we face the task of the common challenge‎ of unseating the PDP in the state come December 5.

“Whereas I am confident that I have the required support of my admirers and supporters‎ as well as the needed backing of Bayelsans to govern them, the hurdles set on the way of this noble project are seemingly temptous and capable of overheating the APC in Bayelsa,” Alaibe said.

He stated further, “As a result, having carefully examined the circumstances that have trailed the Governorship primaries of our great party in Bayelsa state, I have come to the conclusion that pushing my Governorship ambition beyond this point carries alongside it some collateral consequences.”

The National Working Committee of the APC had on Monday cancelled the earlier primary election conducted on September 22 due to allegations of security threats and intimidation of delegates by thugs allegedly  hired by Sylva.