Former Oyo State Governor, Chief Rashidi Ladoja has staged a last-minute withdrawal from the PDP chairmanship race.
He joins Chief Olabode George, Mr Jimmy Agbaje, and Otunba Gbenga Daniel, all from the South West geopolitical zone, who have also withdrawn.
With Ladoja’s withdrawal, former Education Minister, Prof Tunde Adeniran is the last notable candidate from the zone still in the race and Ladoja has backed him for the position.
Speaking about his motivation for withdrawing, Ladoja said: “At the close of nominations, seven aspirants from the South-West Zone obtained and returned nomination forms for the position of the national chairman of our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“From consultations with stakeholders from various zones, we gathered that from all zones, the stakeholders who preferred to back the South-West zone for the position, suggested that we should prune down the number, if possible, to one person.
“The Northern stakeholders went to the extent of stating clearly in a communique, after their meeting, their preference for a South West Candidate.
“To reciprocate these laudable gestures, meetings of the seven aspirants were held with Senator Rashidi Ladoja as the convener on Wednesday 6th, Thursday 7th, Friday 8th and Saturday 9th December, 2017 with the sole aim of agreeing on a consensus candidate. We all agreed that the chances of one person winning are better than those of seven people who are likely to divide the votes coming to the zone.
“Since then, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, Chief Olabode George, Senator Rashidi Ladoja and Mr. Olusegun Aderemi have withdrawn from the race.
“Accordingly I am of the opinion that Professor Tunde Adeniran should become our consensus candidate for the South-West zone.
“I am hereby appealing to all lovers of the South-West Zone to support the candidature of Professor Tunde Adeniran to clinch the position of the national chairman of our great party, the PDP.”