The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, has confirmed his withdrawal from the presidential race.
Mr. Tambuwal said in a statement that he was standing down for the “unity” of his party, All Progressives Congress, APC, and that he will support other aspirants seeking the party’s ticket.
The speaker’s associates had told PREMIUM TIMES that he was withdrawing from the race despite pressure on him to go ahead and contest the 2015 presidential election.
“Despite the pressure from us and from others on him to contest the presidential election, the speaker, I believe, is trying to withdraw,” a senior lawmaker said.
The speaker will now contest for governor in his home state of Sokoto, the source said. The speaker joined the presidential race last week after defecting from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to opposition APC in October.
PREMIUM TIMES –
.
