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The flag bearer of the United Progressive Party (UPP), Mr Akwasi Addai Odike, has withdrawn his nomination for the December 7 presidential elections for "personal reasons".
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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.
