The majority leader of the House of Representatives, Ado Doguwa, and five other aspirants have stepped down from the speaker and deputy speakership race.
The aspirants stepped down at a meeting of members-elect under the auspices of the ‘10th Joint Task’ night in Abuja.
The speakership aspirants, Doguwa (APC-Kano), Abdulraheem Olawuyi (APC-Ogun), and Makki Yalleman (APC-Jigawa), stepped down for Tajudeen Abbas (APC-Kaduna).
Also, the deputy speakership aspirants, Abiola Makinde (APC-Ondo), Francis Waive (APC-Delta), and Julius Ihonberev (APC-Edo), stepped down for Benjamin Kalu (APC-Abia).
The All Progressive Congress has earlier endorsed Messrs Abbas and Kalu for the office of the speaker and deputy, respectively.
The endorsement was further strengthened by the Minority Party Forum, a group of about 70 lawmakers-elect who announced their support for the duo.
Speaking on behalf of the speakership aspirant, Mr. Doguwa said they had come to join the Abbas-Kalu campaign.
Speaking on behalf of the deputy speaker aspirants, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere said that there was a time when strategies and tactics needed to be adjusted to support a democratic process that would work.
