By Musa Baba Adamu with agency report
A leading governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bauchi State, Shehu Umar, has withdrawn from the party’s governorship race ahead of the primaries.
Umar announced his decision in a statement personally signed on Wednesday, citing concerns raised by his supporters over the credibility of the process.
Prior to his withdrawal, a coalition of groups backing his ambition had urged him to step down and avoid participating in the APC primaries, alleging that the process lacked transparency.
The groups claimed the exercise was characterised by irregularities and ambiguity, arguing that the unfolding scenario reflected imposition rather than a democratic contest.
With Umar out of the race, the APC governorship contest in Bauchi is now expected to be a straight fight between former Governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar and former Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Maitama Tuggar.
