Majority leader of the house or representatives, Alhassan Doguwa, has pulled out of the speakership race.
Doguwa made this known 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 were in attendance in the meeting.
Doguwa said he stepped down 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 shock to many considering he had opposed the APC’s choice of Abbas and Kalu.