The Speaker of House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara has picked the nomination form of the Peoples Democratic Party, to seek re-election from his Bogoro/Dass/Tafawa Balewa constituency.
The move came less than 24 hours after some tens of his supporters visited him Tuesday in Abuja and urged him to re-contest.
Dogara, a lawyer was first elected into the house in 2007 and was re-elected in 2011 as a member of the PDP. He won a 3rd term in 2015 as a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
His movement to PDP has for long been an open secret following the movement of his ally, Senator Bukola Saraki. Then in the last Senate bye-election, the APC lost Dogara’s Bogoro constituency.
Dogara, addressing supporters of his constituents who thronged his Abuja residence on Tuesday, said he was already considering stepping aside, having represented the constituency for nearly 12 years now.
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The Speaker, however, stated he was overwhelmed by the present of support and solidarity by his people who travelled from Bogoro, Dass and Tafawa Balewa local government areas in Bauchi State to Abuja to impress on him to run again.
“Some people said they’ll retire us from politics, but we wish to inform them that only God and the voters can retire us”.
“Because you came, because of your sacrifice, I want to announce to you that I’ll run to once again represent our constituency. I’ll soon come to meet you at home to make this formal.
“I’m shocked and stunned because I never thought or imagined that when I woke up today I’ll see this mamoth crowd in my home.
“I’m seeing faces of people we started this journey with since 2007. I pray God to reward you for this sacrifice. I was nearly tired having been doing the same thing for almost 12 years now.”
According to him, “In recent days I began hearing some rumours and some people were already celebrating that I won’t run again.
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“No person can impose leadership on you. Only you our people can choose who will represent you.
“I want to assure you that whatever you need us to do that is what we are going to do. Those who have said that they’ll retire us from politics I want tell them that we have just begun.
“We are going to continue to attract development to our area; construct roads, hospitals, schools, and create opportunities for our people to thrive,” he stated.
