Dogara Withdraws From APC Deputy Chairmanship Race, Backs Kyari

One of the aspirants for the deputy national chairmanship position of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Yakubu Dogara, has withdrawn from the race.

Dogara, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, withdrew from the race for Senator Abubakar Kyari who is said to be the consensus candidate for the position of Deputy Chairman (North).

The former lawmaker made his decision to step down known in a letter, dated March 25, addressed to the APC National Convention sub-committee.

Naija News reports that Dogara, former governor of Bauchi State, Isa Yuguda; former Senator, Abubakar Girei; Sunny Moniedafe, Senator Abubakar Kyari and Honourable Faruk Aliyu are all gunning for the position.

The former speaker said his decision to withdraw from the race is based on President Muhammadu Buhari’s directives to adopt consensus in filling party positions at the APC Convention.

Dogara stated that he is unequivocally supporting consensus, and endorsing Senator Kyari for the Deputy Chairman (North) position.

Meanwhile, the ruling party has reiterated that it prefers candidates contesting national working committee (NWC) positions to emerge through consensus.

This is at it added that members who feel otherwise about a consensus candidate would be allowed to test their popularity at the polls.

This position was made known on Friday by the Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule who is the chairman of the media and publicity sub-committee of the APC national convention.

He submitted that the consensus option ensures the process is faster and rancour-free.

Sule however added that it doesn’t mean the APC would deny aspirants the opportunity to contest or for delegates to vote as anyone who disagrees with the consensus candidate would be allowed to slug it out at the polls.