Osun APM And PDP Candidates Withdraw, Endorse Adeleke

Two candidates in the Osun governorship election have withdrawn from the race and endorsed Governor Ademola Adeleke before Saturday’s vote.

The reports named the candidates as Adebayo Simon Adewale of the Allied Peoples Movement and Adedamola Adebayo of the Peoples Democratic Party.

Adewale announced his withdrawal at a press conference in Osogbo, saying he had consulted party leaders, supporters and other stakeholders before making the decision.

He said he was stepping aside because he believed Adeleke should be allowed another term to continue his administration’s work in the state.

Premium Times reported that Adewale urged his supporters and APM members to back Adeleke in the election. Vanguard reported the same endorsement and said the PDP candidate also withdrew and backed the governor.

The withdrawals come in the final stretch of a contest that has already seen court disputes over ballot inclusion, security warnings, campaign violence allegations and shifting political alliances.

Adeleke, the incumbent governor, is seeking another term in a race that also includes other party candidates already listed by INEC for the poll.

Sources: Vanguard, Premium Times