9th assembly: It’s too late for me to withdraw for anyone - Ndume

- Senator Ali Ndume has said he will not quit his ambition in a bid to contest for the forthcoming 9th National Assembly Senate president position

- Ndume said it is too late for him to step down for anyone because it will be disastrous to his political career

- According to the senator, if President Buhari invites him to his office, he will honour the invitation but stepping down is another thing

Senator Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South), the remaining contender with Senate leader Ahmad Lawan (APC, Yobe) for the position of the Senate president said it is too late for him to step down for anyone.

Ndume made this known in interview with Daily Trust while speaking about about Senator Danjuma Goje that withdrew his ambition in a bid to contest for the position.

He said: "I have been in the race ab initio; Goje did not at any time formally announce that he was contesting for the Senate presidency.

"It’s too late for me to withdraw; we’ve passed that level because there’s no reason for that. Afterall, give me one reason why I should withdraw.

"You’ve said it severally that you believe the president will not intervene or ask someone to withdraw in favour of another candidate, but here we’re, Senator Goje was with President Buhari and he announced his withdrawal from the race soon after the meeting.

"If president asks me to meet him is a different matter. He’s my leader, I will honour the invitation but stepping down is another thing.

"If he calls me anytime, I will go and discuss with him; but the issue of Senate presidency is an entirely different thing.

"I do visit the president even without invitation; but stepping down at this period will be disastrous to my political career and it’s not necessary because there’s no one and convincing reason for me to stepdown.

"If president asks me to meet him is a different matter. He’s my leader, I will honour the invitation but stepping down is another thing. If he calls me anytime, I will go and discuss with him; but the issue of Senate presidency is an entirely different thing.

"I do visit the president even without invitation; but stepping down at this period will be disastrous to my political career and it’s not necessary because there’s no one and convincing reason for me to stepdown."

Goje, however, declared his support for Senator Ahmed Lawan, the anointed APC candidate for the position.