Presidential Race: Balewa’s Son Steps Down For Jonathan

A presidential aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic
Party, PDP, Dr. Abdul-Jhalil Tafawa Balewa, has stepped down for
President Goodluck Jonathan.
In a dramatic move, Balewa, who participated in the presidential
screening exercise at the party's national secretariat on Wednesday in
Abuja, decided to withdraw from the race, although he had participated
in the screening exercise yesterday.
"I have decided to withdraw my aspiration for the strength and
well-being of the party. I am a strong PDP member and I will continue
to work for the progress of the party", Balewa, who is the son of
Nigeria's late Prime Minister, Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa said.
The chairman of the screening committee and former PDP national
chairman, Dr. Ahmadu Ali, who had earlier announced Balewa's decision
to withdraw from the race, commended the aspirant's decision.
Ali said: "After going through 90 minutes that the screening exercise
lasted, he came to the conclusion that he wanted to withdraw from the
race.
"He has promised to do everything to ensure the success of the party
at the poll. We commend him for the decision, although he chose to go
through the entire process of screening before deciding to withdraw".