Dada Olusegun, a candidate for the national youth leadership role at the All Progressives Congress national convention, withdrew from running for the position in tears amidst claim party leaders uncovered “two legal cases” while he was being vetted for the job.

Yesterday, Mr Dada tearfully withdrew his candidacy after a microphone was handed to him by aviation minister Hadi Sirika.

“My name is Dada Olusegun, I hereby withdraw from nomination for the office of National youth leader of our great party,” he said as he laboured to recover his macho posturing.

Mr Sirika described his reluctant withdrawal  as “pure democracy.”

Shortly before the announcement, Mr Dada had been captured on video being alerted by a party strategist that his refusal to withdraw for a consensus candidate anointed by the party establishment could prove detrimental.

“They brought two legal cases,” Lekan Smart, who had earlier withdrawn from the same national youth leader contest, told Mr Dada.

“I don’t know what it is and that is why I am asking you,” he added in Yoruba.

Mr Dada could not be reached for comments on Sunday afternoon. But Ayo Oyalowo, a long-time associate of Mr Dada’s, told Peoples Gazette there are no cases anywhere hanging over his friend.

“Segun Dada has no legal cases anywhere,” Mr Oyalowo said. “He only became emotional at the convention because he had been a loyal supporter of the party for so long.”

“He had contributed immensely towards the party’s successes over the years and felt he deserved better treatment,” Mr Oyalowo added. “Segun was properly screened by the party and certified to contest because he had a clean record as a hardworking and law-abiding citizen.”

Mr Dada had run a protracted social media campaign for the position, during which he received widespread endorsement and donations from young Nigerians online. His supporters said he was a shoo-in for the national youth leadership position had party leaders allowed a vote to take place.

On Saturday, Mr Dada’s wife Abike had alleged Mr Dada stepped down after being threatened by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. 

In another now-deleted tweet, Mrs Dada said Mr Sanwo-Olu had “threatened” her husband and his withdrawal was “for the sake of his family.”

The state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) opted for Dayo Israel and former Lagos information commissioner Lateef Ibirogba as National Youth Leader and South-West Zonal Organising Secretary, respectively.

The decision of the state chapter was announced on Friday by Lagos chapter chairman Cornelius Ojebabi during a dinner organised for party chieftains and delegates at the Lagos Governor’s Lodge, Abuja.