Doguwa withdraws from speakership race, backs Abbas

Alhassan Doguwa, majority leader of the house of representatives, has withdrawn from the speakership race.

Doguwa announced his withdrawal from the race on Wednesday night at a meeting with reps-elect at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja.

Abubakar Maki and Olatunji Olawuyi also withdrew from the race.

Femi Gbajabiamila, speaker of the house; Tajudeen Abbas and Benjamin Kalu attended the meeting.

Doguwa said he dropped his speakership ambition the day the All Progressives Congress (APC) nominated Abbas and Kalu for the speaker and deputy speakership positions of the incoming house of representatives.

Doguwa said Abbas is qualified and has the legislative experience to lead the 359 members of the house.

He said he withdrew from the race to support the party’s choice because he is a beneficiary of the 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.

Doguwa’s appearance and withdrawal from the speakership race came as a surprise to many because he had kicked against the APC’s nomination of Abbas and Kalu.

He was linked with the G7 — a group of seven speakership aspirants — who have vowed that the speaker from the 10th assembly would be elected from among them.