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Ahead of Saturday’s
presidential election, six presidential candidates on Wednesday
withdrew from the race and threw their weight behind President Goodluck
Jonathan, who is the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

The candidates who
stepped down for Mr Jonathan are Peter Nwagu of the African Democratic
Congress (ADC), Godwill Nnaji of the Better Nigeria progressive Party
(BNPP), Solomon Akpona of the Nigerian Mandate Progressive Party (NMDP)
and Batos Nwadike of the Peoples Mandate Party (PMP).

The others are
Lawson Igboanugo of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) and the
candidate of the United National Party for Development (UNPD) who was
represented by his running mate, Galadima Samari.

At a joint news
conference at Legacy House, the campaign headquarters of Mr Jonathan in
Abuja, the six candidates said they were stepping down for the PDP
presidential flag bearer because he represents the vision of a strong
and united nation.

They also commended
Mr Jonathan for delivering on his promise to give Nigerians transparent
and credible polls as witnessed in last Saturday’s parliamentary
election, adding that they were sacrificing their ambitions for the
interest of the country, which they said is bigger than any individual.

Winning opinion poll

The announcement came as an SMS opinion poll put Mr Jonathan ahead of other candidates.

In the poll,
conducted by HALA Global Services Nigeria Limited, in collaboration
with N&D, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FRCN, and Radio1, has
Mr Jonathan receiving the endorsement of 78 percent of Nigerians who
sent in messages. Muhammadu Buhari of the Congress for Progressive
Change (CPC), Nuhu Ribadu of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and
Ibrahim Shekarau of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) shared the
remaining 22% among themselves.

The general manager
and head of marketing of HALA Global Services Nigeria Limited, Usman
Ahmed, said in Abuja that poll was conducted from 15th March, 2011 to
12th April, 2011.

Mr Ahmed, who did
not give the breakdown of the percentages, urged Nigerians who want to
know the facts and figures recorded in the SMS Opinion Poll to visit
the website: www.nextpresidentng.com.

No odd man

The presidential
candidates said they were impressed that Mr Jonathan has so far avoided
using abusive and inciting language all through the electioneering
campaign.

According to Mr
Igboanugo, Mr Jonathan is an embodiment of great ideas and “the
consequences of all he has been doing in the past month have been
marvellous for the unity of Nigerian.” He added that he is “keeping his
ambition in the cooler until Jonathan completes his tenure.” In his
withdrawal declaration, Mr Nwadike said he heeded the call of his
people that initially asked him to run for the presidency and that of
“Ohaneze Ndigbo” that every bonafide Igbo person should support the
presidential ambition of Jonathan.

“I cannot afford to
be an odd man out.” Mr Samari, who spoke on behalf of his principal,
called on northerners to jettison regional and divisive politics which
he alleged some candidates have been propagating and advised them to
cast their votes for the Jonathan/Sambo ticket on Saturday.

The chairman of the
Inter Party Relations Committee of the Presidential Campaign council of
the PDP, Ebenezer Babatope denied insinuations that the presidential
aspirants were induced with the sum of N5million each to withdraw from
the race.

Mr Babatope
insisted that the PDP has always tried to maintain close ties with
other political parties through an all inclusive government of national
unity, adding that the ruling party will continue to collaborate with
other parties and their candidates.

Group of 45

Meanwhile, 45 registered political parties, on Wednesday, endorsed Mr Jonathan.

Announcing their
decision at a joint press conference, the coalition of the political
parties led by the National Chairman of the Advanced Congress of
Democrats (ACD), Yusuf Yakubu, said their decision was based on their
“faith in President Jonathan and belief that he is the most capable of
all the candidates in the field.”

They said their
faith in the PDP candidate was strengthened by the conduct of the
National Assembly election, which they claim was free and fair.

“We salute President Jonathan for keeping his promise to ensure
free and credible elections in Nigeria, for creating the enabling
environment and providing all necessary support to INEC,” Mr Yakubu
said. “The tremendous success achieved last Saturday convinces us that
President Jonathan is the man to lead Nigeria to the promised land.”