Tambuwal finally announces defection, adjourns house sitting till Dec 3

Aminu Tambuwal, speaker of the house of representatives, has finally informed members of the lower chamber that he has defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He made the announcement on Tuesday afternoon after the plenary of the house, after which he announced adjournment of sitting to December 3, 2014 to enable members prepare for the 2015 elections.

However, it was apparently to preempt any move by his former party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to unseat him.

In a very brief statement, he announced: “My dear colleagues, pursuant to the extant provisions of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and having regards to development in my home state of Sokoto, I wish to hereby formally notify you of my membership of the All Progressive 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 and the great sacrifice you are making in the pursuit of the overall national interest and the development of constitutional democracy.

“May the Almighty God continue to guide us all in the exercise of the peoples mandate entrusted in us.”

Tambuwal registered as an APC member on Monday, October 20, 2014, shortly after attending the party’s stakeholders meeting in Sokoto.

Political calculations made him delay making it public, but his announcement on Tuesday was met with a rapturous response from members, including those from his former party.

He announced that he decided to leave for APC because of the “prevailing political situation” in the country.

Tambuwal’s public announcement has ended months of speculations on his defection, but it is not clear yet if he will seek the governorship ticket of Sokoto or the presidential ticket in his new party.

Sokoto APC has zoned the governorship to Tambuwal’s senatorial district, Sokoto south, but there are still string rumours that he might seek the presidential ticket of APC.

Meanwhile, members of APC caucus in the house have told the media that the development was a “historic” one.

Femi Gbajabiamila, Leader of the APC caucus, said that the move was consistent with the law, adding that “the APC members would continue to support the current leadership”.

Samson Osagie (APC-Edo) ruled out possible counter move by the PDP against the leadership of the house.

According to him, “There is unity in this house and that is the kind of unity we want to be replicated in every part of this country.”

He further described Tambuwal as a bridge builder who had united the house in spite of different political affiliations of members of the parliament.