Aspirants to the office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives have debunked a circulated announcement of a meeting with Vice President-elect Kashim Shettima, describing it a trickish tactic of APC-endorsed aspirant, Tajudeen Abass, to forge a non-existing support for his ambition.

Organised under the auspices of Group of Seven (G7), the group, in a statement released on Friday, accused Mr Abass of trying to impose a leadership on the house through unscrupulous means, which has included threats and intimidation.

“We wish to inform the members-elect that the Vice President-elect, His Excellency Kashim Shettima, has not extended any such invitation. This is a ploy by Hon. Tajudeen Abbas and his campaign handlers to gather members-elect to escort him on a private visit to the Vice President-elect to promote his candidacy and create the appearance of acceptability where no such exists.

“This invitation is another attempt at misdirection and subterfuge by Honourable Tajudeen Abbas and his campaign handlers, who, recognising that the unfortunate attempt to impose a leadership on the House of Representatives cannot succeed, have decided to use underhanded means to achieve their ambitions,” the statement read.

“This attempt is one of many unfortunate developments in recent days, including the use of threats and intimidation against members-elect. We wish to use this opportunity to denounce these attempts and put the perpetrators on notice that we will resist any and all attempts to ridicule the House of Representatives in service of the private ambitions of a few individuals,” it added.

The G7 is opposing the recent endorsement of Mr Abass by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC).