A former Speaker of House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara, has defected from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), returning to his former party, All Progressives Congress (APC).

An aide to the former speaker confirmed the development Friday evening.

Acting Chairman of APC, Mr Mala Buni, also later confirmed the development after he led Dogara to meet President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, Friday.

Buni, who is also Yobe State Governor, said Mr Buhari already welcomed the former speaker back to APC. The governor said the conditions that prompted Dogara to leave the ruling party had now been eradicated.

Dogara declined to be interviewed by reporters, saying he would speak on the development at a later date.

Dogara had in 2018 left APC for PDP after having political confrontation for about two years with the former governor of Bauchi State, Mr Mohammed Abubakar.

The former speaker had only recently headed a screening panel of PDP primary for Ondo State governorship election and it is unclear why he is leaving the opposition party he joined in September 2018.

Dogara had on January 29, 2019, formally announced his defection from APC to PDP, although it had been clear since September 2018 that he was decamping to PDP.

It was on PDP platform that he was re-elected to represent his Bogoro/Dass/Tafawa Balewa federal constituency of Bauchi State.

In addition to winning his legislative seat, Dogara also teamed up with incumbent Governor of PDP to defeat then Governor Abubakar in the 2019 governorship election.

It is unclear if Dogara has fallen out with  Mohammed.

PT