The All Progressives Congress appears not to be losing sleep over the reported defection of Speaker Yakubu Dogara from its fold to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, where he came from.
On the contrary, the APC, which dismissed Dogara, as a political paperweight said a crushing and humiliating defeat, awaits him in next February election in his Bogoro/Dass/Tafawa Balewa constituency.
APC acting publicity secretary, Yekini Nabena made the partys position known in a statement Thursday, saying the party was not surprised about Dogaras ill-advised move.
It was only a matter of time judging by Dogaras anti-party antics in the National Assembly where in connivance with the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, he exploited all available avenues to sabotage and undermine the APC-led executive. Dogaras anti-party activities which enabled one of the opposition Partys sole victory in Bogoro Local Government Area (Dogaras council) during the recent Bauchi South Senatorial bye-election won by the APC is another pointer, among several others.
Here is the APC statement;
We have received several media requests for a reaction to the purported defection of the Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to one of the opposition political parties, as reported in the media.
In reacting, a recent comment by President Muhammadu Buhari, aptly sums Dogaras reported defection:
Dogaras reported defection has not come to us as a surprise. It was only a matter of time judging by Dogaras anti-party antics in the National Assembly where in connivance with the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, he exploited all available avenues to sabotage and undermine the APC-led executive. Dogaras anti-party activities which enabled one of the opposition Partys sole victory in Bogoro Local Government Area (Dogaras council) during the recent Bauchi South Senatorial bye-election won by the APC is another pointer, among several others.
Indeed, all politics is local. As a Party, we empathise with Dogara on his confusion and despair over his bleak political future given the fact that he is not on ground and a political paperweight in his home Bauchi state. In his emergence as Speaker, Dogara was merely used by his political master to achieve their selfish political ends at the time. They have since moved on to pursue their individual political aspirations and left Dogara in the cold.
We would advise Dogara against his ill-advised decision to recontest his House of Representatives seat under the opposition Party he is linked with because a crushing and humiliating defeat surely awaits him.
As a Party, we remain united and committed to our Progressives ideologies. We urge Party faithful to consolidate on our strengths and collectively go into the 2019 general elections as a united and strong political fighting force to sustain the Change Agenda we are implementing for the benefit of Nigerians.
Source: NAN