Senate presidency: Why I stepped down for Lawan – Goje

Danjuma Goje, lawmaker representing Gombe Central has withdrawn from the presidency race of the 9th Senate.

Mr Goje withdrew from the race after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday at the presidential villa, Abuja.

The former governor of Gombe State, accompanied by his colleague at the Senate, Ahmed Lawan, who is the preferred candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) for the position met with the president.

Nasir El-rufai, Kaduna State governor, was said to have brokered the meeting between the legislators and the Nigerian leader.

Addressing State House Correspondents after the gathering, Mr Goje said he decided to step down because he was advised to do so.

He said President Muhammadu Buhari advised him to shelve his ambition and allow Mr Lawan who has been chosen by the party to contest the position.

Gone is not the only lawmaker who has been opposing the preferred candidate of the APC for the top job. Ali Ndume, another lawmaker from Borno, has refused to step down for Lawan despite threats of expulsion by the party.

The election for the top job holds next week Tuesday.