By Kolawole Ojebisi
The defection of former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, back to the All Progressives Congress (APC), may lead more lawmakers of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling party.
The former speaker reportedly led some of his colleagues to meet with the chairman of the APC caretaker committee who also doubles as Yobe State governor, Mai Mala Buni.
It was gathered that defection talks formed part of the discussion the lawmakers had with Buni.
Buni was said to have told the lawmakers that the doors of the APC were open to more progressive-minded leaders
The meeting reportedly took place at Buni’s residence in Abuja.
Lawmakers in the meeting include Danjuma Usman Shidda (APGA, Taraba state), Sam Izuigbo (Anambra); Hembe Hembe (Benue) and a former member of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, identified as Alhaji Saidu.
“Dogara had a robust session with the delegation, which bordered on the incoming defection of some members of the House of Representatives from various parties to the APC,” A source who pleaded anonymity was reported to have said.
It was gathered that after the meeting, the delegation and Buni went to another private location in Abuja to meet another group.
The New Diplomat had reported how Dogara said in his resignation addressed to the Bogoro ‘C’ ward chairman of the PDP dated July 24, 2020, that the breakdown of governance in his native state of Bauchi prompted his defection to the APC.
He stated that he resigned his membership of the PDP to enable him to keep faith with his principle of fighting for good governance in Bauchi state.
Meanwhile, in another report, Bashir Ahmad, the personal assistant on New Media to President Muhammadu Buhari has said Dogara did no wrong by defecting to the APC.
According to him, the former speaker house of representatives, Yakubu broke no law with his decision. Ahmad pointed out that Dogara’s defection was about politics and nothing more.
“That’s purely politics, no rule is broken here, Obaseki left and Dogara is back. That’s the law of this game, when you leave, another will come and fill the space. And it will continue to be like that till the end of the game. The best, don’t stress yourself over it. Be moderate!” He said.
