peaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, is expected to formally dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC) today.The defection, which will take place on the floor of the House during plenary, will, however, not include either the resignation of Tambuwal as Speaker or as a member of the House.
A principal officer of the House, who does not want his name mentioned, told Daily Sun that every arrangement had been concluded for Tambuwal’s defection today.
He said: “I can tell you authoritatively that our Speaker will formally declare today. There is no going back. The right people who should know about the defection are aware.”
He dismissed insinuation and claims in some quarters that Tambuwal would vacate his seat and top office when he joins APC from PDP, describing such speculation as untrue.
He argued that there was no place in the constitution where it was specified that a Speaker would resign if “he quits a ruling party,” adding: “What I can tell you confidently is that the Speaker will not resign either as our Speaker or as a member, representing his constituency. Those speculations are the handiwork of enemies of this democracy.”
“I know that some people may want to try some funny things but we are waiting for them. We will test our strength in the court,” the lawmaker vowed.
On whether Tambuwal has a legal justification for leaving PDP at this time, the principal officer contended that the factionalisation of Sokoto State chapter of the PDP was enough reason.
He recalled that the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of PDP, Chief Tony Anenih, only last week visited Sokoto and held a meeting with leaders of the factions of the party in the state.
Apart from that, the lawmaker argued that the state governor, Alhaji Aliyu Wammako’s defection to APC was as a result of the crisis rocking the state chapter of the party.
He said: “Series of developments that had taken place in recent times clearly show that all is not well with the PDP in Sokoto. The constitution says a member of any party can defect to another party if there is a faction in his party. Tambuwal is leaving PDP because there is crisis rocking Sokoto PDP right now. There is factionalisation of the party. Chief Tony Anenih was in Sokoto recently to resolve the crisis but he failed. The governor of the state left the party for APC because of the crisis. Tambuwal is leaving because of the same reason.”
He observed that politics was local, stressing that Tambuwal was merely dancing to the tune of political songs in Sokoto.
“He is first of all a member representing a constituency in Sokoto. He cannot pretend not to know that all is not well with the Sokoto branch of the PDP. He wants to remain relevant in politics and to achieve that, he must belong to the party where majority of his people are,” the lawmaker said.
On whether other PDP members would decamp with Tambuwal, the lawmaker stated that he could only speak of the Speaker while not ruling out that some close allies of Tambuwal might join him.
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