Dogara picks up PDP nomination form as he is set to formally defect and leave APC

HOUSE of Representatives speaker Hon Yakubu Dogara has picked up the Peoples Democratic Party's (PDP) nomination form seeking to stand in his Dass/Tafawa Balewa/Bogoro constituency in Bauchi State in February's elections.

Hon Dogara has been at the centre of a political storm over recent months after he and senate president Senator Bukola Saraki presided over the defection of several lawmakers to the PDP from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Since the development, both men have been declared personae non gratia buy the APC hierarchy and Senator Saraki has since formally decamped.

Now running for president as a PDP candidate, Senator Saraki left the APC along with many of his colleagues and party members in his native Kwara State. Not considered as controversial a character, Hon Dogara had not formally defected but with it now apparent that he is no longer trusted within the APC, he has picked up his expression of interest and nomination form as a PDP candidate.

Apparently, it was some of Hon Dogara's constituents in his Dass/Tafawa Balewa/Bogoro constituency that picked up the form to enable him to re-contest the seat come 2019. One of the speaker's aides said the decision was taken following exhaustive consultation among the constituents, especially bordering on the political feud between Hon Dogara and Governor Abubakar of Bauchi State.

He added: “Yes, I am telling you in confidence, Dogara is defecting to PDP in few hours, because already, the constituents have picked the nomination form on his behalf. We are waiting for him to sign after which his supporters will accompany him to submit it at the PDP national headquarters this night."

According to the aide, Hon Dogara had during a meeting with the constituents said his decision to dump APC followed the crisis in the party, an aftermath of its congresses. He explained that the speaker had lamented that the APC ignored his genuine complaint before it, which he added was aimed at frustrating the entire constituents as they sought effective development.