Dogara indecisive over defection to PDP

The Speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara has claimed he is still undecided about leaving the the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

The three-term lawmaker said he was compelled to contest in the coming election when his constituency members thronged his Abuja home to profess their support for him to represent them in the Senate.

Following his declaration to contest for a senatorial, it was reported that the speaker has dumped the ruling party for the opposition party, People’s Democratic Party, and obtained the PDP’s senatorial nomination and expression of interest forms.

Few hours after the news of his defection broke the speaker released a statement, claiming the form was bought for him by his constituency members and he is still indecisive whether to sign and defect to PDP or not.

In the tacit message posted to his Twitter page, Dogara criticised APC for what its “blatant injustice and outright disregard for democratic principles.”

He also noted that the leadership of the party asked him to ‘beg’ if he were to return to the House of Representatives.

“Earlier today, I was presented with the PDP @HouseNGR nomination form by my constituents. They urged me to relinquish membership of the ruling APC and stated reasons such as the blatant injustice and outright disregard for democratic principles being perpetrated within the party,” Dogara claimed.

“That there have been infractions isn’t news, but what I have kept from the public – until this moment – is that even while reconciliation efforts were on, I was told to beg for a ticket if I wished to return to the House of Representatives,” he added.

APC spokesman, Yekini Nabena, while reacting to Dogara’s reported defection claimed the party is not surprised judging by Dogara’s “anti-party antics in the National Assembly” and in “Bogoro Local Government Area (Dogara’s council) during the recent Bauchi South Senatorial bye-election won by the APC”

Nabena, therefore, advised the speaker “on his decision to recontest his House of Representatives seat under the opposition Party stating that he is just a “political paperweight” in his state and “a crushing and humiliating defeat surely awaits him”

Dogara, however, said he will consult his APC supporters in his constituency and their decision will determine if he remains in the ruling party or join the opposition party.

“I feel deeply honoured by this kind gesture; however, I will not fill this form until I have consulted with those supporters who remain in APC,” he said.

“I thank my people for their unwavering support so far and remain unshaken in my belief that all power belongs to God.”