When on July 24, 2018, the ruling All Progressives Congress, (APC) lost 37 of its members in the House of Representatives to the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), there were rife insinuations that it may not be long after for Speaker of the House, Hon. Yakubu Dogara to also dump the APC.
JOSHUA EGBODO writes.
A prediction come true An opposition splinter within the House at that time gave boost to the speculations by announcing that more defections from the APC should be expected in coming days.
Though, no much of such has happened on the floor since then, politics analysts have however insisted that the predictions may be confirmed, days after political parties may have concluded their fast approaching primary elections.
Dogara, it would be recalled was one of the key members of the then factional New PDP, who, in similar vein, collectively defected to the then opposition in the build up to 2015 general elections.
In the current scenario, rather than many pundits’ permutations that the Speaker’s body language, especially with the glaring opposition of his expected return to the House for a fourth term by his own state governor, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar were signs that he is no longer with the APC, Dogara kept mum until last week, when indications emerged that the Bauchi State lawmaker may have perfected his move out of the ruling political party.
Subtle talks give hope The Speaker on September 11, after receiving a combined delegation of supporters from the three local governments that make up his constituency of Bogoro/Dass/Tafawa Balewa Federal Constituency of the state at his Abuja residence, subtly confirmed his desire to return to the lower legislative chamber of the National Assemly, even as he confirmed that he had earlier contemplated quitting politics.
It was not clear at that moment whether he will seek the reelection on the platform of the APC, or any other known political party.
Apparently making reference to the opposition from his state governor and other elements within the APC, Dogara told the visitors that “Some people said they will retire us from politics, but we want to inform them that only God and the electorate can retire us.
Because you came, because of your sacrifice, I want to announce to you that I will run to once again represent our constituency.
I will soon come to meet you at home to make this formal.
I am shocked and surprised because I never thought or imagined that when I woke up today, I will see this mammoth crowd in my house.
“I am seeing faces of people we started this journey with me since 2007.
I pray God to reward you for this sacrifice.
I was almost tired, having been doing the same thing for almost 12 years now.
But in recent days, I started hearing some rumours and some people were already celebrating that I won’t run again.
Nobody can impose leadership on you.
Only you our people can choose who will represent you.
“I want to assure you that whatever you want us to do that is what we will do.
Those who have said that they will retire us from politics, I want tell them that we have just begun.
We will continue to attract development to our area; build roads, hospitals, schools, and create opportunities for our people to thrive”.
Public appeal Barely two days after the Speaker received the supporters, another delegation of supporters from his constituency showed up in his house, this time with an appeal that he (Dogara) defects from the APC, to seek reelection into the House on another political party’s platform.
To this, Dogara only appealed to them to allow him consult with his supporters within the APC, before making his decision known, again without a clear direction on where he is going.
Leaders of the group, Alhaji Murtala Miyetti Allah, Mrs Keziah Dare and Mr Bulus Iliya Bully said they came on behalf of the people of the constituency to appeal to the speaker to seek re-election, adding that they could not afford not to have him represent them again, given the giant strides he has recorded in the almost last 12 years.
“I cried bitterly when I heard that you won’t contest again but am very happy now having seen you.
Please continue to represent us.
You have done so much for our people.
You empowered women and youths”, Mrs Keziah Dare told the Speaker, while Mr Bully said “the people you are seeing are here are because you have done well for us.
We never expected the kind of development we are experiencing in our area”.
Dogara’s surrogate picks form Another dimension to the whole drama surfaced hours later, when information filtered in that the Speaker may have, using a proxy, picked nomination and expression of interest forms of the PDP.
It was later confirmed that the Speaker has accepted the nomination documents of the PDP from his constituency supporters, a move the PDP subsequently described as “patriotic and nationalistic”.
Oshiomhole’s plot to unseat Dogara But this was to be followed by reported alleged plot by National Chairman of the APC, Mr.
Adams Oshiomole, working with some members of the party in the House to remove the Speaker from the seat.
But a group under the aegis of Parliamentary Democrats Group (PDG) immediately reacted through its spokesman and a member of the PDP from Plateau State, Hon.
Golu Timothy to the effect that it will do everything possible, and within the laws to protect the Speaker against any attempt at his illegal removal.
“Our attention has been drawn to media reports suggesting that the leadership of All Progressives Congress, (APC) is plotting to remove the Speaker, Rt.
Hon.
Yakubu Dogara after he accepted PDP nomination forms from his constituents to re-contest his seat.
“Much as we believe that this is an exercise in futility, we however want to state categorically clear that any attempt to instigate crisis or undermine the authority, right or position of the Speaker on account of this political action, which is legal and constitutional will meet a brick wall from members.
“As it is now, not only Speaker Yakubu Dogara, we have many other members, including a principal officer who has signified interest to join the band wagon.
So we can effectively say that on resumption, Dogara will be presiding over a House with PDP in majority”, the group’s spokesman stated.
Gbajabiamila’s legal interpretation threat To many followers of current developments in the House, it is clear that the Speaker has moved out of the APC, and to the opposition PDP, but only waiting to formally inform his colleagues as the House resumes from its running summer recess, even as they expressed worries over the resultant implications.
They also cited earlier threats by the APC Caucus, led by Majority Leader Femi Gbajabiamila to approach the court for a clearer interpretation of whether a lawmaker can still retain his seat in the face of such defection, where there were no crises in a party on which platform he hitherto, was elected.
It is though widely agreed that there are no constitutional restrictions on a member of a minority party to hold position as presiding officer of a legislative house, practices have made it almost a norm for the majority party to hold such positions, and so the earlier alleged moves by Gbajabiamila and some members seen as loyalists of the APC in the House to wrest the seat from Dogara were also issues the pundits said should not be discarded by the Speaker and his supporters in the House, especially now that rumours have it that they may be having the backing of the APC leadership.
Would the House, therefore, resume to a tumultuous plenary on September 25, which still remains the expected date it would be back for regular plenary? This may be doubtful, but the coming days will tell.