Ilorin – Alhaji Khaleel Bolaji, the ANPP governorship candidate in Kwara State, has stepped down for the PDP candidate, Alhaji Fatai Ahmed.

Bolaji announced the decision to step down at a news conference in Ilorin on Wednesday.

He said he had realized that Ahmed’s aspirations  was in line with ANPP’s wish for power shift from the Kwara Central Senatorial District to Kwara  South Senatorial District.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that  Bolaji and Ahmed are both from Kwara South Senatorial District and the same Ifelodun Local Government Area of the State.

Bolaji said power had been in Kwara Central in the last 12 years.

According to him, PDP’s decision to picks its candidate from Kwara South Senatorial District will go a long way to address the political imbalance in power sharing.

He said the ANPP party leaders, members and supporters from the Emirate openly identified with Gov. Bukola Saraki’s undisguised preference for Ahmed.

“Since the emergence of Ahmed, I have been under considerable pressure from the leading traditional and community leaders, interest and opinion groups from my senatorial district where Ahmed and I come from.

“As a politician who is always sensitive and responsive to the feelings and yearnings of my people, I cannot ignore, for too long, this long desired and legitimate aspiration of my people to have the governorship seat.

“Against this background and after due consultations with the rank and file in my party and other important stakeholders, I have now decided to step down for Ahmed.

Reacting to the development, Alhaji Yusuf Aiyedun, the state chairman of the PDP, laud the courage and understanding of the candidate.

He urged others to join hands with the PDP to develop the state. (NAN)