The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, says he left the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) because APC failed to “keep to promises it made to Nigerians.”
Dogara, who stated this shortly after he submitted his nomination forms at the PDP secretariat in Abuja, said he and his associates were “treated as strangers” within the APC.
The Speaker, who recalled how he rejoined the PDP because of pressures from his constituents, also lamented how APC’s initial agenda of bringing positive change to Nigeria was thwarted by “wayward sense of entitlement of some people.”
Denying that he left APC in order to secure a return ticket for the 2019 general elections, the Speaker affirmed he actually left to PDP where his dream of making Nigeria better could be realized.
“For some of us who are here, today’s event marks the end of all speculations. To begin with, I was a founding member of the PDP, which some of you don’t know. So, this is home to me.
“I was also one of those that built APC in Bauchi state, and I can tell you that we have not fulfilled a single promise that we made. At the national level, we all know what is happening,” the Speaker said.
He added that he had decided to join his brothers and sisters in the PDP, so they could chart a new frontier in his home state of Bauchi, as well as Nigeria, through an uncommon courage and commitment.
He, however, dared those who “have boasted of retiring me from politics” to meet him on the election ground at Bogoro/Dass/Tafawa Balewa Federal Constituency of Bauchi State.
“I am here with the nomination form. For those who said they will retire me from politics, I am waiting for them at Bogoro/Dass/Tafawa Balewa,” he boasted.
In company of the Speaker to submit the nomination forms were former FCT minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, Senator Abdul Ningi, Senator Adamu Gumba, some members of the House of Representatives, PDP chieftains from Bauchi State and scores of supporters.
