ABUJA, Nigeria, April 14 (UPI) -- Six candidates for the Nigerian presidential election announced they were abandoning their pursuit to make room for incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan.
Nigerians head to the polls for presidential elections during the weekend. Six candidates announced they were abandoning their bid and were now supporting Jonathan, candidate for the People's Democratic Party, Nigerian newspaper NEXT reports.
Galadima Samar, a former vice presidential candidate with the United National Party for Development, suggested his party would be sidelined in the election.
"I cannot afford to be an odd man out," he was quoted by the newspaper as saying.
The ruling PDP appeared on track to lose its majority in the Nigerian government. Results from a partial vote during the weekend show the party won 59 seats in the 109-member Senate and only 140 seats in the 360-member House of Representatives.
Nevertheless, Lawson Igboanugo, the former candidate from the People's Progressive Party, said Jonathan was the best candidate for the country.
"The consequences of all he has been doing in the past month have been marvelous for the unity of [Nigeria]," he was quoted as saying.
