Tambuwal Dumps PDP, Ruling Party Kicks, Demands His Resignation

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Gov. of Sokoto state

By Emmanuel Adesuji, Abuja.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal Tuesday defected from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Tambuwal’s defection ends weeks of speculation that the Sokoto lawmaker was on his way out of the ruling party.

Speaker, House of Representatives
Speaker, House of Representatives

In a short speech read at the tail end of plenary, the Speaker said the development in his home state necessitated his decision to move to the APC.

The Speaker who announced his decision to quit PDP only after the motion for adjournment was already moved, assured his colleagues of his commitment to national interest, thanking them for their support.

Tambuwal first elected into the House in 2003 under the platform of All Peoples Party (APP) to represent the Kebbe/Tambuwal Federal Constituency of Sokoto State.

He later moved to the PDP in 2007 and was elected speaker in 2011.

Tambuwal’s defection, pundits have observed will cause ruffling of feathers among members of the House in the days to come.

After the announcement, Tambuwal adjourned the plenary sitting to December 3, 2014.

Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party has asked Tambuwal to honourable resign his position as speaker, even as Minority leader, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila expressed joy at the development, which he described as historic adding that APC members had long hoped for this development.

PDP in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Olisa Metuh, said “the National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has met with PDP leaders in the House of Representatives concerning the defection of the Speaker, His Excellency, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal to the APC.

“After a thorough consideration of the matter, the NWC came to a conclusion that the Hon. 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 Hon. 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,” it said.