US-trained Dr Nwachukwu Anakwenze, a presidential aspirant on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has stepped down for Nyesom Wike, citing zoning policy breach.

Anakwenze said he was stepping down to support Wike because the PDP has refused to obey a zoning arrangement that would have seen the party’s Presidential ticket zoned to the south.

His action has reduced the number of contestants to 13 after Peter Obi and Muhammad Hayatu-Deen had earlier pulled out of the contest on reasons bordering on corruption of the process.

Anakwenze  had from the onset of his candidacy advocated and appealed to the party to zone its presidential ticket to the South-East.

According to him, the southwest was compensated for the death of Chief MKO Abiola, the winner of the 1993 presidential election and the South-East supported this.

“It is time for everybody to support the southeast, the southwest has had its own turn, south-south has had its own turn too.

“So, for equity and fairness, the party’s ticket and presidency should be zoned to southeast,” he had said.