Senator Bukola Saraki yesterday announced quitting from the 2015 presidential race "in the interest of our country" and to allow for rancour-free primaries in his party.

Saraki, who is in the All Progressives Congress (APC), did not endorse any of the other aspirants, but Daily Trust learnt from sources close to him that he is going to back retired General Muhammadu Buhari's presidential bid.

"After months of wide but careful deliberations and consultations with my family, friends, political associates and supporters, today, I am announcing the suspension of my presidential bid in the interest of our country and party," the former Kwara governor said in a statement in Ilorin yesterday.

He is the first key presidential contender in APC to drop out of the race, leaving three main aspirants: Buhari, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso.

Saraki said party primaries always leave losers disappointed and, sometimes, bitter. The party would then invest so much energy and time afterwards managing and reconciling various interests, he added.

I don't think our party can afford too much internal rancour going into next year's election. I therefore think some of us need to make the sacrifice and be part of the solution rather than part of the problem of the party," he said.

He added that ahead of the 2015 elections, the nation's political outlook "is very complicated and this is the time for every patriotic politician to situate his personal ambition in the context of the country's overall interest."

Saraki, 52, was a presidential aspirant for the 2011 elections, but stepped down when a group of Northern leaders chose Atiku as a consensus PDP candidate for the North. Atiku went on to lose the primaries to President Goodluck Jonathan.

Saraki's surprise decision to quit the presidential race came just days ahead of Buhari's formal declaration scheduled for Wednesday. Atiku declared two weeks ago, while Kwankwaso is to declare his bid on October 23.

A source close to Saraki said he will not immediately endorse any of the other presidential aspirants in APC.

But Daily Trust learnt that the former Kwara governor will support Buhari's candidature.

Sources close to the two politicians said Saraki is likely to be appointed as the director general of the Buhari campaign.

When contacted, a politician in the Buhari camp said last night the issue of who leads the former head of state's campaign would be announced after his formal declaration on Wednesday.

APC is due to hold its presidential primaries on December 2. Whoever emerges will face President Jonathan, who the PDP chose as its sole candidate ahead of the December 6 national convention. The presidential election is scheduled for February 14.

Yesterday, Saraki also recounted how he, along with others, decided to leave the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP), which he said had become too invested in the personal ambition of one man at the overall detriment of the country and its democracy.

"I have always maintained that I did not leave the ruling party to join the opposition because of any personal interest," he said.

"We need to change the way the country is run, we need change in our security and the values we place on human life, we need to change the current disgraceful situation in security and corruption. And I believe only the APC can bring about this change and give our country the leadership it deserves."

Saraki also said he was deeply humbled by "the spark that my prospective candidacy has ignited among Nigerians across Nigeria and abroad; young people, youth groups, and stakeholders from all geo-political zones have sought the change that they wish to see.

"These young people by their overwhelming support have not only encouraged my candidacy, they have endorsed the change that they desperately crave."