United Pasok Momogun Kadazandusun Murut Party (Upko) secretary-general Wilfred Madius Tangau has offered to contest for the deputy president's post in party polls in October.

Madius said he came to the decision after considering various factors, including support from the grassroots level, particularly Upko divisional leaders.

"I want to make the announcement that I am offering myself, as secretary-general of Upko, to contest the deputy president's post.

"I have arrived at this decision a long time after the advice of senior party leaders as well as support from divisional chiefs, and it is now up to them to nominate or not to nominate me as deputy president of Upko," he told reporters after attending the opening of Penampang Upko's annual general meeting at Wisma Pertanian, Kota Kinabalu.

The AGM was officially opened by Upko president Bernard Dompok.

Madius, who is Tuaran member of Parliament, said he needed to garner at least eight nominations out of the 23 divisions eligible to hold their AGMs to qualify for this contest.

Yesterday, Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) Minister Ewon Ebin, was quoted as saying that he would contest the Upko deputy president's post.

The post fell vacant after Wilfred Bumburing quit the party to set up Angkatan Perubahan Sabah and contested under the Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) ticket for the Tuaran parliamentary and Tamparuli state seats in the last general election.

Meanwhile, Dompok is poised to remain as Upko president after a majority of its divisions called for "no contest" for the party's top post.

- Bernama