Speakership Race: Betara, Gadgi Step Down For Tajudeen Abass

Two frontline contenders for Speakership of the 10th House of Representatives, Aliyu Betara from Borno State and Yusuf Gadgi from Plateau State have agreed to step down and support the zoning arrangement of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

Both aspirants also agreed to work for the emergence of Tajuddeen Abass and Benjamin Kalu as the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the incoming House of Representatives.

They withdrew their ambition on Sunday after a private meeting with President Bola Tinubu at his residence in Abuja.

The meeting had in attendance the Vice President, Kashim Shettima; Chief of Staff to the President and Speaker of 9th House, Femi Gbajabiamila and Governor of Niger State Mohammed Bago.

Vice President Shettima told journalists at the end of the meeting that President Tinubu is pleased with the gesture of Aliyu Betara and Yusuf Gadgi to place the interest of the party above their personal ambitions.

He called on other contenders for the seat of Speaker to take a cue from the two men who have shelved their speakership ambitions and work with the party to foster national unity, equity, fairness and justice.