2023: How Political Parties Are Strategizing To Replace Former Speaker Dogara Amid Declining Support For APC

Ajiya Ayuba

As the 2023 general election gathers momentum candidates of political parties in the country have since started strategizing to win elections into various offices determined to represent their electorates and the same political permutations are being discussed in Bogoro, Dass, and Tafawa-Balewa Federal constituency where candidates of various political parties are playing hide and seek game to Snoop their opponents especially to replace the big political shoe of the former speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, Rt Hon, Dr. Yakubu Dogara.

Though there are strong indications that the ruling party People Democratic Party (PDP) in Bauchi State seems to have an edge compared to other political parties in the constituency, especially with the style in how the former speaker Dogara is alleged to have laid his allegiance to the PDP presidential candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar the Waziri of Adamawa apparently angered by the All Progressive Congress APC Muslim- Muslim ticket where he described the development as a path to divisible Nigeria.

Our Correspondent findings revealed that among all the candidates that are gunning to replace the former speaker of the 8th Assembly none seem to have political weight compared to him apart from the convincing records of their performance and achievements in their respective communities to count on them.

Alhaji Abdullahi Nasiru Ahmed a PDP chieftain in the Constituency said, in fifteen years (15) of Dogara’s sojourn in the constituency had attracted a lot of developmental projects in the three LGAs, such that it will be very difficult for someone to outperform the former speaker Dogara.

He added that when he was told that Dogara will not contest again his mien shock him saying the ruling party PDP may win no matter the unpopularity of their Reps candidate now that Dogara has finally declared support for APC.

According to Ahmed, Barrister Kefas Musa Magaji of the PDP Reps candidate may get an easy ride to succeed Dogara being an erstwhile member representing Tafawa-Balewa in Bauchi House of Assembly, caretaker committee chairman of Tafawa-Balewa local government, chairman Nigerian Law Reforms Commission and adviser to Bauchi governor.

On his part, Alhaji Adamu Inusa Nasirudeen an All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain had said that they are dilemma on who wears Dogara Political shoe considering his giant achievement and reiterated that kefas Magaji of PDP may be more credible than others on the race.

He added that the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC)  Jafaru Gambo Leko who voluntarily resign from the Independent National Economic Commission (INEC) has the Pedigree to beat his chest following the power of incumbency and may maneuver his way to win with the tacit support of the electoral body.

Comrade Enoch Yakubu Emmanuel from the New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP) said that the party Candidate Kuni Simon Quini is the youngest among all the candidates with high popularity, capability, and competency reading from his philanthropies in the constituency, however, his chances are narrow because his party has no structure and is unpopular in Bauchi State.

While Mr. Bature Gashon Timothy from the Action Alliance (AA) said that no one among those wants to replace former speaker Dogara like Dr. Emmanuel John because he remains the most competent among all of those in the Reps race but unfortunately his political Party seems to be strange without structure.