Mimiko withdraws from Presidential race, to run for Senate

Presidential candidate of the Zenith Labour Party and a two-term
governor of Ondo State, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, has backed out of the
2019 Presidential race.

Mimiko announced his withdrawal from the race while meeting with
the party faithful from the 18 Local Government Areas of Ondo state
and some national leaders of the party, in Ondo, on Thursday.

“I took the decision in the ultimate interest of our party, the
Zenith Labour Party,” the former Governor said at the meeting.

Instead, Mimiko said at the meeting that he would now be running
as the candidate of the ZLP for Ondo Central Senatorial district in
next year’s election.
Since declaring his intention to run for President, Mimiko has
enjoyed massive support from different groups across the
country.

Meanwhile, the ZLP candidate for Ondo Central Senatorial
district, Engr Gboye Adegbenro, has stepped down for Mimiko.

Adegbenro, a former Commissioner for Works under the Mimiko’s
administration, said in a statement on Thursday that he is stepping
down for Mimiko “in the interest of the Zenith Labour Party and our
dear state.”

He added that “I am convinced that the candidacy of our leader,
the former governor of Ondo State, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, will better
serve the interest of the district now and the overall goal of the
south-west. Mimiko is a Better Candidate whose national and
international exposure and achievements as a two-term Governor,
will further add value to the state and the country at large.

While appreciating his constituents, followers and party leaders
who have been with him all through the processes that culminated
into taking the decision, Adegbenro said: “I remain a firm believer
and supporter of my brother and leader, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, who
invited me into partisan politics and who has always provided
selfless leadership.”

Mimiko did not disclose if his party would be supporting any of
the major presidential candidates in the 2019 presidential
race.