The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, on Tuesday dropped his bid to contest for the presidential ticket of Nigeria’s opposition party, the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Tambuwal announced his decision to opt out of the race in a statement he signed and made available to newsmen in Abuja.

The Speaker said the decision was taken after due consultations and considerations of the general interest of the party, saying that if he chose to go on with the bid at this time, it would alter calculations on the political chessboard of the party.

He, however, stressed that he possessed all that it takes to be the number one citizen of the country.

“Having consulted widely, taking into consideration the concerns of some elders of the party, I have decided to suspend my participation in the presidential contest for now,” the Speaker said in the statement.

“I have done so as a sacrifice for the cohesion and unity of the APC. I am suspending my participation in the presidential race for now, because I do not have any inordinate ambition to occupy any office. Nigeria is a country too great to sacrifice on the altar of partisan politics and personal ambition. What anyone becomes in life is exclusively in the hands of God. Only God gives power to whoever He pleases.” he stated further..

The speaker further said that since the public got wind of his intention to run for the presidency on the platform of the APC, it had resulted into monumental interest, analyses and commentary.

“I am overwhelmed by the outpouring of support and interest. On my part and with the greatest sense of modesty and responsibility, I wish to assure Nigerians that I am fully prepared, ready, willing, determined, available and armed with the requisite plans, programmes and ability, to undertake the great mission of rescuing our dear country from the clutches of institutionalised corruption, gross incompetence, greed and divisiveness”. Tambuwal said.

He expressed confidence in the ability an APC-led government, saying that it would operate a clean, corruption-free, competent and purposeful government that will fight the mysterious paradoxes that had held the nation hostage for decades.

The Speaker called for understanding as his pledged his loyalty to his party and the presidential aspirants on the platform of the party.

There have been speculations about the Speaker contesting the governorship seat of Sokoto State but he is yet to pick an expression of interest form.