Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal earlier today dropped his presidential ambitions after consultations with All Progressives Congress (APC)chieftains who are strong backers of retired General Muhammadu Buhari.
Tambuwal will now contest for the position of governor in his home state of Sokoto according to impeccable sources close to the speaker.
One source told Saharareporters that Tambuwal was “begged” by Buhari people to step down so as not to sabotage his budding ambition as APC’s consensus candidate in the upcoming party primaries.
Mr. Tambuwal sent tongues wagging when he recently decamped to the APC after which series of events followed including the withdrawal of his police protection reportedly on the orders of President Goodluck Jonathan.
A few days later some house of representatives members visited Mr. Tambuwal at his official residence with the Presidential nomination forms for the APC.
However, several political sources stated that Tambuwals sudden interest in the presidency was driven by Mr. Jonathan in an attempt to frustrate Buhari from emerging as APC candidate. Those sources told this medium that the high-profile fight to remove Tambuwal as speaker was done to raise his profile and attract public sympathy that could portray him as anti-establishment.
Mr. Tambuwal or his aides did not respond to our inquiries regarding the latest action.