Businessman Suleiman Shahbal has stepped down for Mvita Mp Abdulswamad Nassir in the race to succeed Hassan Joho as the next governor of Mombasa.

This was announced by the ODM party leader Raila Odinga on Friday evening.

"We have had negotiations and Suleiman Shahbal has agreed to support Abdulswamad Nassir as the governor of Mombasa. Nassir will fly our party's flag in the governor race" said Odinga.

The party has also settled on Senator Mohammed Faki to be the flag bearer in the Senator race in the coming August election.

Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho welcomed the move by Shahbal noting that both Nassir and Shahbal have been strong competitors.

"Both of them are very strong and worthy competitors and for Shahbal to agree to support Nassir is a good thing" said Joho.

Adding " What is now remaining is for us to hit the ground running and start campaigning immediately."

On his part Suleiman Shahbal revealed that he has been assigned to focus on Raila Odinga's presidential campaign.

" I have been aspiring to be governor of Mombasa for the last ten years, but the objective was not for Suleiman Shahbal, but to bring change and development to the people of Mombasa." said Shahbal.

Adding "We have agreed to work with Abdulswamad Nassir towards bringing this change. To all my fans and supporters we have agreed that we will work with Nassir."