Jonathan, PDP plan shocker for Tambuwal

More troubles await the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu
Tambuwal, over his recent defection to the All Progressives Congress,
investigation has revealed.
The PUNCHlearnt on Thursday that apart from his security details that
were withdrawn by the Nigeria Police Force on Thursday, Tambuwal might
be barred from entering either his office or the National Assembly
when the House resumes on December 3.
This was one of the decisions reached during a meeting held by top
officials of the Peoples Democratic Party which had in attendance
President Goodluck Jonathan.
Tambuwal had on Tuesday adjourned the House till December 3 after he
stunned his colleagues by announcing his defection from the PDP to the
opposition All Peoples Congress.
But on Thursday, the Police authorities withdrew his security aides,
citing section Section 68 (1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution as amended
as reason.
The section reads, "A member of the Senate or of the House of
Representatives shall vacate his seat in the House of which he is a
member if -
(g) being a person whose election to the House was sponsored by a
political party, he becomes a member of another political party before
the expiration of the period for which that House was elected."
A top Presidency source told one of our correspondents on the
condition of anonymity that the legal advice before the Federal
Government and the leadership of the PDP was that Tambuwal was no
longer the speaker of the House in the eye of the law.
He noted that the speaker contravened section (68)(1)(g) by defecting
when there is a subsisting court injunction to the effect that there
is no division in the PDP.
According to him, the decision to strip Tambuwal of all the rights and
privileges of the speaker was taken based on that legal submission.
The source added that the government and the PDP leadership resolved
that instead of taking Tambuwal to court for defecting without
vacating his seat, he would be the one to go to court when his rights
are withdrawn.
He said, "The withdrawal of Tambuwal's security details is in order.
Section 68 (1)(g) made it clear that a lawmaker who defects when there
is no division in his party shall vacate his seat.
"The legal advice is that the operational word there is 'shall.' That
section of the constitution is self-
"There is a subsisting court injunction that there is no division in
the PDP and that there is no merger.
"It therefore means that based on that constitutional provision,
Tambuwal is no longer a member of the House. Since he is no longer a
member, then he cannot be the speaker.
"The withdrawal of his security details is in order. He will even be
stopped from entering his office. He is no longer a member of the
House.
"Instead of us taking him to court, he will be the one to go to court."
President Goodluck Jonathan had on Wednesday engaged some leaders of
the PDP in a meeting aimed at taking a common position on the matter.
Those who attended the meeting included the National Chairman of the
PDP, Adamu Mu'azu; the Deputy Leader of the House, Leo Ogor; as
well as governors Gabriel Suswam (Benue); Godswill Akpabio (Akwa
Ibom); Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa); Ibrahim Dankwabo (Gombe); and
Sullivan Chime (Enugu).
Top governmental officials who also attended the parley were the
Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim; the
National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki; and the Attorney-General of
the Federation, Muhammed Adoke (SAN).
Reps may defy Tambuwal
There were also indications that the House might reconvene within
the next one week to take further actions over Tambuwal's defection.
The PUNCHlearnt that the decision to reconvene the House was also one
of the outcomes of the meeting between Jonathan and some principal
officers of the House and PDP leaders.
The principal officers were the Deputy Speaker, Mr. Emeka Ihedioha;
the Majority Leader, Mulikat Akande-Adeola; and the Deputy Majority
Leader, Mr. Leo Ogor.
By enabling provisions, the House requires the approval of one-third
of the total number of 360 members to reconvene the House.
A reliable source in the House, who confided inThe PUNCHon Thursday,
said, "What will happen is that about 120 members will sign and pass
over to the speaker, asking that the House should be reconvened. That
is what is going to happen in the next one week."
Police action, ploy to bring harm to me–Tambuwal
While justifying the withdrawal of Tambulwal's security aides, the
Force Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel Ojukwu, had in a terse
statement in Abuja, hinged the Police action on Section 68(1)(g) of
the 1999 Constitution as amended.