Yakubu Dogara, the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, has officially announced his withdrawal from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in favor of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party.
The lawmaker joined the PDP on Monday, during the party’s presidential campaign in Lagos.
Atiku Abubakar, the PDP presidential candidate and former Vice President, was delighted to meet Dogara in the nation’s commercial capital.
Dogara’s defection to the PDP comes just three days after the Northern Leaders Consultative Forum, which he leads, named Atiku as its preferred presidential candidate for the 2023 election.
According to a group of Christian and Muslim religious and political leaders in the north, Atiku appears to be the best presidential candidate after careful consideration of all candidates.
“It is evident that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is heading for implosion and extinction; hence, it cannot be the party for now and in the future, because of its rejection to embrace inclusiveness in a diverse country like Nigeria. After the 2023 elections, APC may be dead and buried as a political party,” the group had said.
Their endorsement, however, emboldens Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, who ran against Atiku in the PDP presidential primary election on May 28 but lost to the ex-Vice President.
Wike, who leads the G5 or Integrity group of disgruntled PDP governors, mocked the former speaker after learning of his support for Atiku.
The South-South governor claimed that Dogara, who had insisted on relocating Nigeria’s presidential seat to the south, had suddenly betrayed his words by endorsing Atiku, a northerner.
