EXCLUSIVE: PDP house members demand automatic tickets to move against Tambuwal

Ahead of a meeting with Adamu Mu’azu, national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Monday, the party’s members in the house of representatives have given a pre-condition to move against Aminu Tambuwal, the speaker.

At a meeting of 115 PDP reps with the house leader, Mulikat Adeola-Akande (pictured), over the weekend, they demanded that the party should give them automatic tickets for the 2015 elections before they would reconvene in the absence of Tambuwal.

Some of the reps are currently facing problems in their home states where the governors are planning to deny them return tickets to the national assembly at the primaries slated for November 22.

The deal, if accepted by the PDP leadership, will allow them to undercut Tambuwal who is not likely to be allowed into the national assembly building if the lawmakers reconvene.

Tambuwal had defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and adjourned the house till December 3, 2014, ostensibly to allow members participate in electioneering for 2015, although it is believed that it was meant to pre-empt any move against him over his defection.

In the books of the PDP-led government, however, Tambuwal is no longer considered a member of the house, much less the speaker, having defected.

The police on Thursday withdrew Tambuwal’s security aides, citing the provision of section 68(1)(g) of the 1999 constitution which stipulates that any lawmaker who defects to another party will lose his position in parliament ─ except his party is factionalised.

Emeka Ihedioha, his deputy, is therefore expected to preside over the reconvened house and then proceed to deliberate on pending issues, including the 2014-2016 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and the 2015 budget.

Legal hurdle

However, the plan to reconvene the house may face a legal hurdle as the house rules stipulate that recalling the parliament must be agreed upon by the leaders of the parties.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Zakari Mohammed, the chairman, media and publicity committee of the house, said the house could not be reconvened by PDP members alone.

The statement read: “The House of Representatives adjourned sitting of its plenary on 28th of October to 3rd December 2014 to allow members of the House carry out pre-budget oversight activities in preparation for the 2015 budget and also to meet the political calendar of all the political parties.

“This adjournment was unanimously approved by all the Principal Officers of the House without dissent and the motion was moved by Hon Mulikat- Adeola Akande, the Majority Leader. The Speaker, Rt. Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, CFR, approved with the gavel.

“There has been intense media focus on this adjournment and media inquiries on the appropriate procedure for re- convening of the House of Representatives  from its Recess , if it becomes necessary. The following clarification has become imperative.

“The procedure for reconvening or Re-Assembly of the House is contained in the House Standing Orders made pursuant to Section 60 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which empowers the House to regulate its own procedure, including the procedure for Summoning and Recess of the House.

“Order V, Rule 18(2) of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives provides as follows;

“Whenever the House stands adjourned either to a date fixed by Resolution or the Rules of the House, and it is represented by the Leaders of the Political Parties in the House to the Speaker that the public interest requires that the House should meet on an earlier or a later date or time than that on which it stands adjourned, the Speaker MAY give notice accordingly, and the House shall meet on the date and at the time stated in the notice.”

“This means that the Leaders of all the political parties in the House especially the Majority and Minority Leaders respectively MUST consent before the representation is made to the Speaker who has a discretion to agree or not.

“This briefing is for the information and guidance of all Nigerians.”

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), in a statement signed by Abdulwahid Omar, its president, condemned the withdrawal of security aides to the speaker and warned that nothing must happen to Tambuwal.