The All Progressives Congress (APC) aspirants for the Imo North senatorial seat, including Mrs Gloria Akobundu, Chief Ike Odoeme and Chief Longers Anyanwu, have announced their withdrawal from the race, billed for Monday (today).
In a statement jointly signed and issued in Owerri and made available to newsmen on Monday, the trio disclosed that they were stepping down for Sen. Patrick Nwabueze.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the development means that Sen. Ifeanyi Araraume will slug it out for the party’s ticket with Nwabueze, who is seeking a second term in the Senate.
According to the statement, the decision by the aspirants to step down was driven purely by the need to uphold the existing zoning arrangement within the APC in Imo.
They stated that allowing Ndubueze to complete his second term was “paramount for continuity, stability, and sustained development in Imo North”.
The statement read in part: “Zoning is a time-tested mechanism for equity and fairness.
“It is our solemn duty as loyal party members to respect and protect it so that Sen. Ndubueze can complete his tenure.
“In the overriding interest of our great party, the APC, we have decided to withdraw from the race in order to strengthen unity, cohesion and oneness within the party.
“We firmly believe that our unity will make us stronger and better positioned to secure victory.”
They affirmed their commitment to the re-election bid of President Bola Tinubu, describing him as a “visionary leader, whose Renewed Hope Agenda is transforming Nigeria”.
They also pledged support for Gov. Hope Uzodinma, pointing out that his developmental strides in infrastructure, security, and human capital development had repositioned Imo for higher heights. (NAN)
