AHEAD of August 9 Osun State gubernatorial election, National leadership of the Peoples Democratic Movement, PDM yesterday opted out of the election, saying that its candidate, Oludare Timothy Akinola was no longer participating in the forthcoming poll.

A statement titled, “Withdrawal of Mr Oludare Timothy Akinola as PDM Governorship candidate for the forthcoming election holding in Osun State on 9th August 2014”  by PDM National Secretary, Dr. Oluwole Akinwumi, read, “The Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) took the decision in June to withdraw Mr Oludare Timothy Akinola as its candidate in the forthcoming Gubernatorial Election in Osun State and the Party has not changed its position in this regard.

“The decision of the party and its reasons for withdrawing Mr Akinola as its flag bearer was communicated to the Chairman INEC, the Chairman of PDM in Osun State and Mr. Akinola himself.

“The Party is therefore surprised to find listed in a Newspaper Publication, the name of Mr Akinola as one of the 20 Gubernatorial Candidates participating in the August 9 governorship election in Osun State on the platform of PDM.

“This Press Statement is issued to draw attention to the earlier decision of the party to withdraw Mr Akinola from contesting the election on its platform and to dissociate the Party and its members in Osun State from the newspaper report.

“OurParty members in Osun State and the General Public are please to take note.

It would be recalled that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC had on Wednesday released twenty candidates and their party including the PDM for the election.

With PDM out, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP will now contest with other eighteen political parties.