JUST IN: Petroleum Minister Timipre Sylva Withdraws From Presidential Race

Petroleum minister Timipre Sylva has withdrawn from the presidential race.

Glamtush reports that the Minister of State for Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva, has withdrawn from the presidential race in the All Progressives Congress and has returned to work.

A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria who monitored development at the ministry in Abuja on Monday reports that Sylva withdrew having considered the enormous work at hand at the ministry.

NAN reports that the Northern Solidarity Group had on May 9, presented the APC’s Expression of Interest and Nomination form to the minister to enable him to contest the party’s 2023 presidential primaries.

An official at the ministry who chose to remain anonymous said Sylva withdrew from the race to support President Muhammadu Buhari in his quest to achieve a robust oil sector.

“He promised to consult the leader of the country and his political leaders the day he was presented with the form.

“He believes that concentrating on his work will attract more investments for the oil and gas sector.

“He has consulted and he believes that the challenges at the ministry and oil and gas sector are enough issues for him to begin to deal with now than going to pursue presidential ambition at the expense of the nation.