Olusegun Mimiko, the immediate past governor of Ondo State and the presidential candidate of the Zenith Labour Party, has suspended his 2019 presidential campaign.
Dr. Mimiko announced his decision to suspend his presidential campaign in a meeting with Zenith Labour Party activists from the 18 Local Government Areas of the Southwestern State and some national leaders of the party, in Ondo Town, on Thursday, November 15, 2018.
“I took the decision in the ultimate interest of our party, the Zenith Labour Party,” the former two-term governor said at the meeting.
Mimiko, who is also a former housing and urban development minister, informed his party leaders that he would now be running as the candidate of the ZLP for Ondo Central Senatorial district in next year’s election.
Mimiko was widely regarded as a frontline presidential candidate in the upcoming elections. He is respected in in Nigeria and internationally as one of the transformational political leaders in Nigeria.
A globally recognised champion of universal health care, Mimiko’s programmes in Ondo State were groundbreaking in the key areas of human capital development, healthcare, education, urban renewal, and social security.
Dr. Mimiko in his presidential declaration speech in September 2018 promised to run a social democratic government with emphasis on restructuring Nigeria, bringing peace to the troubled Middle Belt area and North East of the country, human capital development, youth and women empowerment if elected into the office of president next year.
Meanwhile the ZLP candidate for Ondo Central Senatorial district, 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.
