The aspirant said the contest has been “obscenely monetised”.
Another presidential aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, has withdrawn from the party primary election scheduled to hold on Saturday.
In a letter addressed to the national chairman of PDP, Iyorchia Ayu, on Friday, the former managing director of FSB International Bank said the contest has been “obscenely monetised.”
“I wish to reiterate that I did not join party politics and to contest for the presidency because of personal gains and inordinate ambition, but in order to serve our country,” Mr Hayatu-Deen noted.
“It is therefore based on personal principles and with great humility that I have decided after wide consultations to withdraw from this contest which has been obscenely monetized,” Mr Hayatu-Deen said.
The aspirant quit the race few hours to the PDP presidential primaries scheduled to hold on Saturday at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.
Barely three days ago, Peter Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, dumped the party, citing a gang up against him. He later joined the Labour Party to realise his ambition.
Meanwhile, 13 other candidates are still in the competition to win the PDP ticket for the presidential election scheduled for 2023.
They include; Governors Bala Mohammed of Bauchi, Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom, Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto, Nyesom Wike of Rivers, former vice president Atiku Abubakar, former senate president’s Bukola Saraki and Anyim Pius Anyim, former governor Ayo Fayose.
Others include; the publisher of Ovation Magazine Dele Momodu, pharmacist Sam Ohabunwa; Charles Ugwu, Chikwendu Kalu and Tariela Oliver, the only female aspirant.