Alhassan Doguwa, the majority leader of the Nigerian House of Representatives, has made a surprising announcement by withdrawing from the race for the speakership position.
The news broke on Wednesday evening during a gathering of newly elected representatives at the prestigious Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja.
In an unexpected turn of events, both Abubakar Maki and Olatunji Olawuyi also declared their withdrawal from the race, leaving the field open for other contenders.
Among the prominent figures present at the meeting were Femi Gbajabiamila, the incumbent Speaker of the House, along with Tajudeen Abbas and Benjamin Kalu.
During his speech at the gathering, Doguwa explained the reason behind his sudden decision, revealing that he had abandoned his ambitions to support the choices made by the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The APC had endorsed Abbas for the speaker position and Kalu for the deputy speaker position of the incoming House of Representatives.
Citing his own personal experience as a beneficiary of the party’s zoning arrangement, Doguwa emphasized the qualifications and legislative experience possessed by Abbas.
He expressed confidence that Abbas was capable of effectively leading the 359 members of the house. Doguwa’s withdrawal was a clear indication of his commitment to supporting the party’s decision and upholding the zoning arrangement.
Addressing the gathering, Doguwa emphasized the significance of his presence and withdrawal from the race, dispelling any notions that it was a mere coincidence.
He urged those in attendance not to dismiss the reality of the situation, stating, “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.”
This surprising turn of events left many observers perplexed, considering that Doguwa had previously voiced opposition to the APC’s nomination of Abbas and Kalu.
He had been associated with the G7, a group consisting of seven aspirants for the speakership position, who had pledged that the speaker for the 10th assembly would be elected from among their ranks.
As the news of Doguwa’s withdrawal spreads, speculations arise regarding the potential impact on the dynamics of the speakership race. With the field now open to other contenders, the race for the coveted position becomes more intriguing and unpredictable.
It remains to be seen how the remaining candidates will navigate this new development and gather support as they vie for the influential role of Speaker of the House in Nigeria’s political landscape.
Comments are closed.