The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, has picked the notice of intent and nomination forms to run for the office of president of Nigeria on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, ‎APC.

Mr. Tambuwal recently defected from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. In response, the federal government withdrew his security detail.

Mr. Tambuwal was earlier tipped to run as governor in his home state, Sokoto.

But the speaker received the presidential nomination forms Thursday, his spokesperson, Imam Imam, revealed to CEOAFRICA .

“Earlier today, some friends and political associates of the Speaker notified him that they have bought the forms for him,” Mr. Imam said.

CEOAFRICA understands that several APC members in the House of Representatives trooped to the party’s Abuja office to purchase the forms on Mr. Tambuwal’s behalf.

Sources in the APC say Mr. Tambuwal is in the presidential race at the prompting of one of the leaders of the party, Bola Tinubu, who is a former governor of Lagos State.

Mr. Tambuwal’s indication of interest brings to five the number of persons who vying for the nation’s top job on the platform of the party.

Others who had earlier picked the forms are former Head of State, Muhammadu Buhari, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano state, and newspaper publisher, Sam Nda-Isiah.

The APC has said it will conduct a modified primary election in which delegates will vote for their candidate of choice from their home state, after which a national convention will simply collate and ratify the votes from across the country.