Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, a former bank chief and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, has withdrawn from the race, claiming that the contest has been monetized.
He made the announcement in a letter dated May 27 and addressed to the party’s National Chairman.
The withdrawal comes just hours before the main opposition party’s national convention in Abuja today, Saturday, to choose its presidential candidate for 2023.
This comes after another presidential candidate and former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, resigned from the party and later joined the Labour Party.
According to Hayatu-letter: Deen’s “For the past three months I had the privilege of intensively interacting with Nigerians from all walks of life. This reinforces my resolve that Nigeria MUST BE saved, otherwise our future is doomed.
“I joined the contest as a democrat, with an open mind to keenly contest and accept the result of a process that is fair, credible and transparent.
“We have endeavoured to forge a consensus which would have facilitated a seamless emergence of a candidate, which unfortunately could not be achieved.”
“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.”
RN
