Senator representing Gombe Central, Danjuma Goje, has withdrawn from the presidency race of the 9th Senate.
Igbere TV had reported that Goje withdrew from the race after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday at the presidential villa, Abuja.
Igbere TV reports that the former Gombe governor, accompanied by his colleague at the Senate, Ahmed Lawan, who is the preferred candidate of the All Progressives 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, Senator 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 Ahmed Lawan who has been chosen by the party to contest the position.
Goje is not the only lawmaker who has been opposing the preferred candidate of the APC for the top job. Igbere TV reports that Senator Ali Ndume (APC, Borno), has refused to step down for Lawan despite threats of expulsion by the party.
The election for the various leadership positions holds next week Tuesday, June 11.
