18th May, 2023
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 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, 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.