Dogara Allegedly Backs Down From Speakers Race

The House, which returned to legislative business on Tuesday, March 12, had to adjourn sitting to Wednesday, March 13, in honour of deceased colleagues, Temitope Olatoye Sugar, from Oyo and Bethel Amadi from Imo states respectively.

There were indications that the incumbent speaker of the House of representatives, Yakubu Dogara, may not by seeking re-election to the position he currently occupies.

The Independent reports that this might not be unconnected with emerging realities surrounding the political fortune of his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the just concluded presidential and National Assembly elections.

According to the newspaper, a source close to the speaker who pleaded anonymity, said the Bauchi-born lawyer-turned legislator has said that he won’t be seeking election into the office of the speaker in the 9th Assembly.

It would be recalled that Dogara defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), in September 2018 to contest the seat of Bogoro/Dass/Tafawa Balewa federal constituency of Bauchi state, having fallen out with his state Governor, Mohammed Abubakar, over irreconcilable political differences.

It was gathered that political observers believe that Dogara’s decision to seek re-election into the House was borne out of his desire to retain the speakership and the conviction that the opposition PDP may upstage the APC by winning the presidency and majority seats in the National Assembly.

“The speaker is not running but is likely to support someone he can rely on. He won’t attempt it because he knows he’s in the opposition which has minority in the House, as well as the PDP’s inability to win the presidency.

“He’s encouraging members from the North-East region to show interest in the hope that the APC may zone it to them,” the returning lawmaker said.

Asked if Dogara would go for any principal position meant for the opposition, the source said: “I don’t think he has any such interest.

“I think he will prefer to divorce himself of any leadership tension and controversy in the House.”

Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that the speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, said the life of the current House still lasts until the next three months, adding that there were many pending issues before shortly it.

Dogara made this known in a statement signed by his special adviser on media and public affairs, Turaki Hassan, on Sunday, March 3, in Abuja.