Territory Alliance candidates David Ridley and Andrew Bedwell quit election race

TWO Territory Alliance candidates, including high-profile NT Police detective Andrew Bedwell, have dropped out of the election campaign just three months out from polling day.

Territory Alliance leader Terry Mills. Picture: Glenn Campbell

TWO Territory Alliance candidates, including high-profile NT Police detective Andrew Bedwell, have dropped out of the election campaign just three months out from polling day.

The NT News can reveal Mr Bedwell, the party’s candidate for the Palmerston seat of Drysdale, and David Ridley, candidate for the northern suburbs seat of Wanguri, have bowed out of the race.

Territory Alliance leader Terry Mills confirmed the seats had been vacated.

It is understood the men cited family and work reasons, with their decisions made at a party meeting on Monday.

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Ex Territory Alliance candidates David Ridley (Wanguri) and Andrew Bedwell (Drysdale).

Mr Mills said in a statement that he was “very sorry to see them move out of roles as candidates” and “is very heartened that their support with the campaigns will continue”.

Mr Ridley, a church leader and founder of an advocacy group strongly opposed to the NT’s new sex-worker laws, was announced as a candidate two months ago.

When his candidacy was first announced in November last year Mr Bedwell said he was making the switch to politics to “continue community development in a broader way”.

The loss of two candidates comes as the fledgling Territory Alliance shifts into “campaign mode”, with the party launching expressions of interest for candidates to run in a dozen seats.

Territory Alliance leader Terry Mills. Picture: Che Chorley

The party will “select the best possible people to represent Territorians” for the “many potentially winnable seats”.

Territory Alliance needs candidates in seats including Chief Minister Michael Gunner’s seat of Fannie Bay, Health Minister Natasha Fyles’ seat of Nightcliff and Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro’s seat of Spillett.

Other seats include Brennan, Katherine, Arnhem, Mulka (currently Nhulunbuy), Arafura, Gwoja (currently Stuart), and Barkly.

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Mr Ridley and Mr Bedwell aren’t the first candidates to drop out of the campaign.

The CLP’s original candidate for Port of Darwin, lawyer Rose Watts, dropped out less than a month after being named.

She has been replaced by project manager Toby George.

The NT election will take place on August 22.