PDP members Weep, tell Tambuwal: Resign as Speaker Now

                         
The political landscape has changed, the leading opposition APC now controls the House of Reps:
PDP National leadership has welcomed the defection of the Speaker of the House, Aminu Tambuwal, to the APC but they want him to resign as speaker because he is no longer a member of their party.

After almost one year of speculation and hob-nobbing with APC leaders, Tambuwal, formally dumped the PDP for the APC on Tuesday.

Reacting to Tambuwal’s defection, PDP's Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, said the honourable thing for Hon. Tambuwal now is to resign.

Metuh said in a statement: “The National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party has met with PDP leaders in the House of Representatives concerning the defection of the Speaker. After a thorough consideration of the matter, the NWC came to a conclusion that the Honourable Speaker, as a responsible elected officer, knows full well what is needful and honourable of him since his new party is in the minority.

“We are not unmindful of the fact that Honourable Tambuwal became Speaker on the platform of the PDP as the political party with the majority of seats in the House of Representatives and that this incontrovertible fact has not changed.”

How Tambuwal dumped PDP

According to Vanguard, Tambuwal, who had put all his colleagues and political associates on their toes since 2013 over where he belongs, formalized his defection to APC via a two-paragraph letter.

As soon as Leader of the House, Hon. Mulikat Akande-Adeola and the Deputy Leader, Hon. Leo Ogor, moved for adjournment and journalists stood up to leave the gallery, Tambuwal started reading his decampment letter.

The Speaker waited till the end of the day’s legislative business in the House to announce his movement to the opposition party.

Tambuwal said: ”Before I hit the gavel on the motion for adjournment, I want to make this formal announcement to this House. Based on the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, and having regards to the development of PDP in my state, Sokoto State, I hereby announce my membership with the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“Let me register my profound appreciation to all of you, my colleagues, for the unflinching support you have continued to extend to me for the overall national interest and development of our democracy. May Almighty God continue to guide us all.”

PDP Reps hold emergency meeting; some weep
Members of the PDP trooped into the Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha’s conference room to hold what members described as an emergency meeting. After the brief meeting, PDP leadership summoned the PDP House caucus to its secretariat.

Some members who could not control their emotions closed their office doors to journalists and wept at the loss of a colleague to the opposition. Some of the lawmakers told Vanguard: “Please we are not in the mood to discuss anything at this moment but we will meet this night to deliberate on the way forward”.

Tambuwal’s next political move
Tambuwal, Vanguard reliably gathered had picked the governorship nomination form over a week ago where he was made the sole flag bearer of the APC in Sokoto State.

An impeccable source close to the speaker said that Tambuwal is also eyeing the presidency. The game plan, he explains, is that if Tambuwal failed at the presidential level, he has nothing to lose as the Sokoto ticket is already in his pocket.

“I do not know how he intends to achieve that but from all indications our friend is eyeing both positions,” the source said.

Tambuwal remains Speaker, APC Reps
APC lawmakers addressed the press immediately Tambuwal announced his defection. Arrowhead of the opposition, Femi Gbajabiamila and the Minority Whip, Samson Osagie spoke at the briefing.

They said: “We are here to address you on the events of today, the formal notification by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tambuwal, of his membership of the All Progressives Congress.

“We welcome and applaud the Speaker’s decision. Ever since the crises started in PDP which led to the formation of the ‘New PDP’, and the defection of five PDP Governors, 37 PDP members of the House of Representatives to the APC, and the formal merger of the ‘New PDP’ with the APC, we had all along known that this day will come.

“We are proud to acknowledge that the Speaker remains not only a member of the House of Representatives but also its Speaker. This position is consistent with the law and practice in a Presidential System of Government.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Constitution requires only, that ‘Speaker or Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives shall be elected by members of that House from among themselves.’ Rt. Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has been a speaker for all the members, all the political parties and for all Nigerians and will so continue.

“As a caucus, we pledge our continued support to the current leadership of the House of Reps. We will not do anything to destabilize the institution of the House of Representatives, so that it will continue to deliver on the mandates given to its members by Nigerians.”