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 announced their withdrawal at a meeting of members-elect under the auspices of the ‘10th Joint Task’ in Abuja on Wednesday night.

The speakership aspirants, Ado Doguwa (APC-Kano), Abdulraheem Olaoye (APC-Ogun), 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 ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) had earlier endorsed Abbas and Kalu for the office of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker, respectively.

The endorsement was further strengthened by the Minority Party Forum, a group of about 70 members-elect, who announced their support for the duo.

Speaking on behalf of the speakership aspirants, Doguwa said they had come to join the Abbas/Kalu campaign, adding that they will support the party’s choice.

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He said: “I want to say on behalf of these great men around me here, that we have individually and collectively decided to surrender our bid to become Speaker this time around.

“We have resolved to support our great party and the man they have chosen to be Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas.”

Speaking on behalf of the deputy speaker aspirants, Ihonberev said the three of them wanted to be Deputy Speaker, believing that it will be zoned in their favour but it turned out differently.

The lawmaker said: “As loyal party persons, we decided to align with those that have been identified by the party

“The integration, capacity, and ability to carry people along, transparency and the energy to mobilise ideas that would change Nigeria for the better.

“We want to say we are absolutely, undilutedly in support of the ticket as announced by the party that Tajudeen Abbas will be our next Speaker and Benjamin Kalu will be the next Deputy Speaker.

“We want to assure you that we are prepared to do all it takes to ensure the success of this project.”

However, the Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Wase, the Chairman Committee on Appropriation, Muktar Betara, the Chairman Committee on Water Resources, Sada Soli, Mariam Onouha, and Yusuf Gagdi are still in the race.

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC, on May 9, zoned the Senate Presidency of the 10th National Assembly to the South-South and the Speakership of the House of Representatives to the North-West.

The party also zoned the Deputy Senate Presidency to the North-West and Deputy Speakership to the South-East.

The ruling party settled for Senators Godswill Akpabio/Barau Jubrin for Senate leadership and Abass/Kalu for House of Representatives leadership.

The Star