Breaking: Betara, Gagdi withdraw from Speakership race, backs Tajuddeen Abbas

Two aspirants for the House of Representatives Speaker, Hon. Aliyu Betara and Hon. Yusuf Gagdi have just agreed to stepdown for Hon. Tajuddeen Abbas after a meeting with Vice President Kashim Shettima.

Following a Sunday meeting with President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, Betara and Gagdi decided to get out of the race.

Abbas and Benjamin Kalu had just been proposed by the ruling party as speaker and deputy speaker of the tenth national assembly, respectively.

Some lawmakers, notably Idris Wase, the immediate-past deputy speaker, opposed the APC’s candidacy of Abbas.

Wase has reiterated that he will run for speaker during Tuesday’s swearing-in of the 10th national assembly.

Shettima praised the pair for moving aside for Abbas after the meeting, saying that President Tinubu was “quite touched” by their deeds.

He stated, “They have agreed to resign and accept Hon. Tajudeen Abbas’ candidacy for speaker of the house of representatives.”

“What unites us is superior to what divides us, and the president was particularly moved by their gestures.

We are all members of the APC family, and on Tuesday, we will all cross the Rubicon.