Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Alhassan Doguwa, has withdrawn from the speakership race.
Doguwa announced his withdrawal Wednesday night, during a meeting with members-elect at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.
Doguwa’s appearance and subsequent withdrawal from the race came as a surprise to many because he had kicked against APC’s nomination of Tajudeen Abbas and Benjamin Kalu.
He had been linked with the G7, a group of seven aspirants, who vowed that the Speaker of the 10th Assembly would be elected from among them.
Two other aspirants, Abubakar Maki and Olatunji Olawuyi, also withdrew from the race at the parley attended by the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, Abbas and Kalu.
Doguwa said he dropped his ambition the day the All Progressives Congress (APC) nominated Abbas and Kalu for the positions of Speaker and Deputy for the incoming House of Representatives.
He said Abbas is qualified and has legislative experience to lead members of the House. He added that he withdrew from the race to support the party’s choice because he is a beneficiary of the party’s zoning arrangement.
“Don’t imagine that my appearance here is by accident. For those of you who are thinking you’re daydreaming, you’re not daydreaming. This is reality,” Doguwa said.
