The national chairman and presidential candidate of the National Interest Party (NIP) Eunice Atuejide Wednesday withdrew from 2019 presidential race and endorsed the opposition Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar.
“So my people, having committed to always put Nigeria first, having gotten to know most of the candidates vying for the Presidency in 2019 one on one, having investigated most of them independently, and having seriously considered the inherent dangers in allowing the incompetence of President Buhari to continue, I choose to fight for the benefit of every Nigerian on the side of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP),” Atuejide said on Wednesday.
Atuejide’s withdrawal came five days after the presidential election was postponed from February 16 to February 23.
The 39-year old Atuejide said her race for the Presidency was programmed to end on 16th February 2019, and it ended on that day.
“Therefore, the Presidential Election proposed to hold on 23rd February 2019 due to the last minute postponement on the part of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) does not involve me,” Atuejide said
“In fact, that race is only between the incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar,” She added.
Although prior to Atuejide’s announcement there have been indications stating that she had pitched her tent with Abubakar and endorsed him for president.
Atuejide, whose name will still appear on the ballot on Saturday, said party members and voters should restrict their votes to the opposition party’s candidate, Abubakar and the president Buhari.
“Every well-meaning Nigerian particularly those whose party logos are on the ballot sheets should pick a side. Whatever we do on Saturday 23rd February, we will be voting either Atiku or Buhari i.e. either PDP or APC for the 2019 Presidency,” she said.
With over 60 persons in contention to defeat incumbent Buhari at the poll on Saturday, PDP’s Abubakar, a former vice president of the country and ex-ally of Buhari, is seen as the main challenger.
