The majority leader of the House of Representatives, Alhassan Ado-Doguwa, has renounced his speakership ambition.
He declared his withdrawal on Wednesday night during a meeting attended by reps-elects at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja.
Also present at the meeting were Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila, as well as Tajudeen Abbas and Benjamin Kalu, who were nominated by the All Progressives Congress for the speaker and deputy speakership positions, respectively, in the 10th House of Representatives.
Similarly, Abubakar Maki and Olatunji Olawuyi also disclosed they were no longer in the race.
Ado-Doguwa, who is the member representing Doguwa/Tudun Wada Federal Constituency in Kano State said he was out to make the declaration formal as he had dropped his speakership ambition the day the ruling party announced its preferred choice
He said he was ready to support the party’s choice because he had benefited from the zoning arrangement.
He added that Abbas has the requisite legislative experience to lead the 359 members of the house.
“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 had recalled how he stepped down for Femi Gbajabiamila to become Speaker of the 9th House of Assembly, noting that his journey to the leadership of the House can be likened to that of the incumbent Speaker.
He was also among the dissent voices who opposed the nomination of Abbas and Kalu.