Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara has formally declared his intention to re contest. Dogara, who has been in the senate for eight(8) years said he had planned not to recontest because he was already getting tired but was compelled to, after his constituents visited him in Abuja, begging him to recontest in 2019.
Though still officially in the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC), many political observers have predicted that the Speaker might soon defect from the party. His defection was predicted to have followed that of his ally, Bukola Saraki, Senate President but Dogara has kept eeveryone guessing as to where is loyalty now lie.
Accepting the offer to recontest, Dogara wrote via Twitter on Tuesday thus:
It was a heartwarming moment today when I received hundreds of constituents who visited my Abuja home, imploring me to recontest in 2019.
Representing the people of Bogoro/Dass/Tafawa Balewa federal constituency has been a great honour and today, I saw many people who began this journey with me in 2007.
The voice of the people is the voice of God; even though I had been considering not running this time around, now that my people have called upon me to do so, I feel compelled to heed their call.
To those who have said that they will retire us from active politics, it is imperative to know that all power belongs to God and it is up to the electorate to decide, not them. The people have always spoken through the ballot and 2019 won’t be any different.
See reaction
This is the familiar storyline told by politicians. People will always meet you urging you to contest in Nigeria provided you have the cash and influence. This for us is no news, maybe soon you will get those that will purchase your nomination ticket. This is Nigeria!
— Joseph Shoremekun (@JShoremekun) September 11, 2018
A return to House is good for your political career but most likely not retain Speakership. You made history as a minority from Bauchi state as Number 4 Citizen. History can't forget u in a hurry.
— Dami Agunloye (@Dami4Change) September 11, 2018
You should have be strong enough to stand by your decision.they begged Mandela too to recontest but he gave others chances.
— CLIFF BEN (@okeekayodee) September 12, 2018