Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo contested for the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential ticket in the interest of the public, according to his spokesman, Laolu Akande.
Osinbajo eventually lost out to his mentor, Bola Tinubu, who has since emerged as the president-elect.
However, his decision to contest attracted criticisms, with some observers insisting it was as a betrayal of Tinubu.
Osinbajo was the Lagos state attorney-general when Tinubu was governor of the state.
But speaking on Friday in an interview with Channels Television, Akande said: “What is important is that you take the step you want to take in the best interest of the people. Public interest is the overriding factor.
“People see him as a representation of a new Nigeria. All of these can’t be in place and he just walks away.
“He did what he needed to do and the party made the decision and he just has to move on after doing the right thing.”
Osinbajo was conspicuously missing from Tinubu’s campaign trail in the run-up to the elections.
