Ahmed Saliu, the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has withdrawn from the National Assembly race to represent Idanre/Ifedore federal constituency area of Ondo state, Peoples Gazette can report. 

Mr Saliu, a grassroots politician in Idanre, has subsequently drummed support for Tajudeen Adefisoye, the incumbent member representing the constituency and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state. 

Last year, Mr Saliu declared to run for political office in the 2023 race, citing the need to “rescue the people of Idanre as well provide them the adequate representation they deserved.”

However, the Gazette learnt on Wednesday that the SDP politician announced his decision to step down for Mr Adefisoye at a meeting held in the town. 

This is coming barely three days before the Presidential and National Assembly election slated for February 25 by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). 

Confirming his decision in an interview with our reporter, Mr Saliu said he willingly decided to step down from the race due to what he described as the “overwhelming performance” of the incumbent federal lawmaker. 

He added that Mr Adefisoye, who is running for a second term in office, has brought unprecedented development to the Ifedore constituency and deserved to be re-elected. 

“Reelecting Adefisoye as a member of the House of Representatives would bring a whole lot of benefits to Idanre/Ifedore federal constituency than electing a new member that will need some years to get acquainted with the politics of the National Assembly. 

“So, I have taken time to analyse the benefits of my candidacy in the February 25 House of Reps election in Idanre/Ifedore federal constituency. I truly feel proud to have stepped down for Mr Adefisoye because of his overwhelming acceptability and popularity across our federal constituency. 

“The man has also written his name in gold with his outstanding performance so far as a member representing us at the National Assembly. In my honest opinion, Adefisoye is a man that truly knows the way and the people of our constituency should not hesitate to reelect him,” Mr Saliu added. 

Mr Adefisoye was first elected into the National Assembly in February 2019, on the platform of the SDP before defecting to the ruling APC, after citing an internal crisis as his motive to leave. 

He would be battling with his main challenger, Festus Akingbaso, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Saturday’s election.