Tuam man adamant he hasn't withdrawn from election race

TUAM'S Aengus Melia says he has not withdrawn from the General Election race 2016 and that he submitted his nomination papers on Wednesday.

The anti-water charges campaigner declared his intention to run under the Direct Democracy Ireland – a National Citizens’ Movement (DDI-NCM) banner last month.

Aengus says he has received calls this morning asking why he has withdrawn but has confirmed that he certainly hasn't.

He was told by the Returning Officer on Wednesday, February 10 that all was in order regarding his nomination and that he was “now registered”.

“I handed in my nomination papers in Galway on Wednesday at 3 o'clock, the Returning Officer told me I was registered as a candidate,” Aengus told The Tuam Herald today (Friday).

“I'm trying to find out where this has all come from or what the issue is but I haven't withdrawn and as far as I'm aware everything was in order,” added the 37-year-old.