Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State has withdrawn his bid for the position of Senate President.

Umahi, who will be a first-time senator when the 10th senate is inaugurated in June, has instead endorsed a former governor of Akwa Ibom, Godswill Akpabio.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Akpabio on Friday, the Ebonyi governor revealed that he had met with President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who advised him not to run.

Umahi confirmed that he was not considering the post of deputy senate president and had stepped down for his “brother” Akpabio.

Senator representing Borno south, Ali Ndume, said Akpabio is the president’s preferred choice for the position, but did not specify whether he was referring to President Muhammadu Buhari or the president-elect.

The announcement follows comments by governor of Kano, Abdullahi Ganduje, who stated that Akpabio would be the next senate president.

Ganduje spoke Thursday during a meeting with his Cross River counterpart, Ben Ayade, in Calabar, Cross River capital.

“The Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria will come from the South South and it is no other person than the former governor of Akwa Ibom.

“The uncommon governor, the uncommon minister who is going to be the uncommon president of the senate. So we have resolved that.

“I am giving you assurance, we are waiting for the D-Day that he will be the Senate President of Nigeria,” he said.