Nigeria, Feb. 16 -- Barely 24 hours before the primary election of the All Progressives Congress governorship in Edo State, one of the leading aspirants, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has quit the race.

Ize-Iyamu, in a letter of withdrawal (which was not dated) sent on Friday to the national chairman of the party, Abdullahi Ganduje, and copied the acting state chairman of the party, Jarrett Tenebe, to notify the party of his decision, said the decision was a painful one.

Ize-Iyamu had been one of the top contenders before he quit the race, to the surprise of many.

It would have been his fourth attempt at becoming the state governor, having served as Secretary to the State Government under Governor Lucky Igbinedion.

The letter read, "Few mo...