[ 2016-11-09 ]

Odike pulls out of presidential race
The flag bearer of the United Progressive Party
(UPP), Mr Akwasi Addai Odike, has withdrawn his
nomination for the December 7 presidential
elections for "personal reasons".
That was barely 24 hours after he had re-submitted
his nomination forms to the Electoral Commission
(EC) and a few hours before the announcement of
political parties that are qualified to contest
the presidential election.

Mr Odike's nomination forms were not accepted by
the commission earlier due to a court suit
challenging his position as a flag bearer of the
UPP.

He was one of the nine aspirants who re-submitted
their forms to the EC on Tuesday as ordered by the
Supreme Court.

Mr Odike told journalists at the EC headquarters
in Accra on Wednesday that his reasons for the
withdrawal were personal.

He said the leadership of the UPP would on Monday,
November 14, 2016, hold a press conference to
announce which political party to throw their
support behind in the elections.

Mr Odike said his lawyers have written to the
commission to inform it of the withdrawal of his
nomination.

A copy of the letter that his solicitors, Darko,
Keli-Delataa & Company, had written to the EC
read: "On our client's instructions, we regret to
notify you of his decision to withdraw his
nomination filing on October 29, 2016, to contest
the impending presidential elections. The reasons
for his withdrawal from the race are personal to
him at this time."

The letter conveyed Mr Odike's 'deepest regret' to
the Chairperson of the EC and the other
commissioners that his decision might cause them.

"Please accept also his warm wishes of God's
guidance and good luck for the arduous task which
comes with managing this year's general
elections," it stated.

Source - Graphiconline

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