Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State played a key role in the defection immediate past Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara, from PDP to APC.

Buni who is also the Chairman of APC Caretaker/National Planning Committee, had been meeting with aggrieved former members of the APC who left for other parties. One of the fruits of his effort was Dogara returning to APC, a party he dumped for the PDP in 2018.

A source close to the former Speaker said he wants to contest for governorship of Bauchi State in 2023 which will pit him against the incumbent governor, Bala Mohammed of the PDP. The source said Dogara has had extensive consultations with APC hierarchy in the state and beyond and has been assured of the party’s ticket.

Both Buni and Dogara met with President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday, at the State House, Abuja.

Speaking to State House correspondents after the closed door meeting, Buni revealed that his task of reconciling former aggrieved members of the APC had started yielding fruitful results with the return of Dogara back to the party.

He said: “We paid courtesy call on the President in continuation of our effort to rebuild the party. We are here to see Mr President and brief him on the developments.

“People shouldn’t be surprised seeing the former Speaker in the Villa. He is a member of the APC and this is because the reason he left the APC is no more there. Yeah, he’s back.

“We are meeting all our aggrieved members, particularly those who have interest in coming back to the party. They should feel free to do so.

“We are assuring them and there is no crime in double assurance.

“We will do justice to all our members and that’s what will bring peace and that is what will guarantee peaceful coexistence; that is what will bring the consolidation of the party, the rebuilding of the party.

“Without doing justice, you cannot achieve that and we are sure of doing justice to all our members.’’

The governor disclosed that the president had welcomed the return of Dogara to the APC, expressing delight over the development.

“He’s happy with the development. That’s what he’s looking for. We are rebuilding the party and these are the steps we are taking towards rebuilding the party,’’ he added.