GOVERNORSHIP candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mike Omotosho, has debunked claims that he had withdrawn from the race, stepping down for either Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of the All Progressives Congress (APC) or Simeon Ajibola of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Addressing newsmen in Ilorin yesterday, Omotosho described the report as "unfair," noting that a candidate so convinced of victory in an election would not contemplate stepping down for another who is even not sure of victory.

He explained that the LP national leadership's directive two weeks ago in Ibadan, Oyo State, that all members of the party should vote for President Goodluck Jonathan in Saturday's presidential polls did not mean that the party was abdicating other elective positions at the general elections.

According to him, his party will continue to shun overtures for any unholy alliance with any political party in the state "until Kwarans are free from bondage," adding: "The lies and deception by enemies of a better Kwara State against Mike Omotosho are part of the propaganda they have employed to confuse our teeming supporters.

"Omotosho is the favourite and darling of the voters, he is not stepping down for any candidate. We have unholy advancements from the enemies of the people but we shall not succumb to their evil blackmail. Omotosho shall not step down for any candidate.

"We don't have godfathers like many others, but God is our Father. We shall not cave in to the threats and confrontations of those that want to hold our state captive at all cost. Kwara shall be free."

He urged his supporters to maintain peaceful attitude from the campaigns "to the period of accreditation, voting, counting and announcement. God is surely with us, therefore, there is no need to panic or be violent."