Two leading contenders in the 10th National Assembly speakership race, Muktar Betara (APC-Borno) and Yusuf Gagdi (APC-Plateau), have stepped down and endorsed Tajudeen Abbas.

This is contained in a statement by the Tajudeen Abbas-Benjamin Kalu Joint Task Campaign Office on Sunday.

The statement said Mr Abbas secured the endorsement of the overwhelming majority of members-elect across the eight political parties in the six geopolitical zones.

According to the statement, Mr Abbas is ready to compete on the floor of the House and take the mantle of leadership of the 10th House on Tuesday (June 13, 2023).

“It is pertinent to mention that the so-called G7 no longer exists as key members of the forum, such as Rep Ado Doguwa, Rep Muktar Betara, Rep Yusuf Gagdi, Rep Makki Yalleman and Rep Raheem Olawuyi, among others have since dropped their speakership ambitions and declared support for the Abbas-Kalu ticket,” the statement explained.

It added, “It is worthy to note that Betara and Gagdi announced that they stepped down for Abbas on Sunday, June 11, 2023, after a meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.”

The campaign office faulted reports claiming President Bola Tinubu did not mention Mr Abbas as his preferred candidate, asserting that the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had on May 8, 2023, consulted with the president before reaching that resolution on the zoning arrangement.

The party zoned the Senate president’s office to Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom (South-South) and the deputy Senate president to Barau Jibrin of Kano (North-West).

(NAN)