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A former NDC chairman aspirant, Alhaji Hudu Yahaya has confirmed rumours that he was impressed upon by high echelons of the party to abandon his bid minutes before voting begun at the national executives election of the party in Kumasi on Saturday,December 20. Yahaya withdrew from the race at the last minute. He was contesting incumbent Dr Kwabena Adjei, former Minister of Trade and Industry Dan Abodakpi and eventual winner of the contest Kofi Portuphy. Some youth in Tamale perceived to be his supporters have allegedly threatened to burn his residence in the Northern region as a result of his decision. However, in a statement, Tuesday, to explain the reasons for his last minute exit from the race, the former general secretary of the NDC revealed that the party�s Council of Elders had advised him to step down on ethnic grounds. �One of the reasons as many of you might have heard was the fact that if I am elected national chairman of the NDC, together with the president and flagbearer would be the two topmost leaders of the party from the same region, something those in opposition to my candidacy saw as being interpreted as a hijack of the party by Northerners� the statement noted. It added:� Upon a deep consideration and deference to the charter and council of elders of our party, in spite of the efforts and resources invested in my campaign we took the very difficult decision to step down in the interest of my party after several consultations with my team�.