Tambuwal: Jonathan calls emergency PDP meeting

President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday engaged some leaders of the
Peoples Democratic Party in a meeting aimed at taking a common
position on the Tuesday defection of the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal.
The meeting took place hours after the House said the PDP, individuals
and groups condemning the defection of the speaker to the All
Progressives Congress should not dictate to it on how to conduct its
affairs.
Tambuwal had announced his defection from the PDP before he adjourned
sitting till December 3.
The situation made the President to summon the National Chairman of
the PDP, Adamu Mu'azu, to the meeting which had the Deputy Speaker of
the House, Emeka Ihedioha; the Deputy Leader of the House, Mr. Leo
Ogor; and a member from Delta State, Ndudi Elumelu, in attendance.
Some PDP governors such as Gabriel Suswam (Benue); Godswill Akpabio
(Akwa Ibom); Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa): Ibrahim Dankwabo (Gombe) and
Sullivan Chime (Enugu) were also part of the meeting.
Top government officials who attended the parley included the
Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim; the
National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki; and the Attorney-General of
the Federation, Mr. Muhammed Adoke (SAN).
One of those in attendance told one of our correspondents on the
condition of anonymity that the meeting centered on how to make
Tambuwal vacate his seat as speaker.
"The issue of the Speaker and his exit was one of the fundamental
issues discussed at the meeting," he said.
The source however did not disclose the decision reached at the meeting.
Another source said that Ihedioha "took the heat at the meeting."
He did not explain further.
The presence of Adoke and Dasuki at the meeting suggested that they
might have reviewed the legal and security implications of the options
available to them with the two government officials.
Earlier, Mu'azu had at another meeting the President had with a
delegation of the Federal Capital Territory Council of Chiefs,
dropped the hint that Jonathan summoned him.
"The President had summoned me for a meeting. I was with him when he
wanted to come and receive you and he told me to follow you. I only
did follow follow," he had told members of the delegation.
The PDP had shortly after Tambuwal announced his defection called on
him to do the needful by resigning as speaker.
The party, argued through its National Publicity Secretary, Olisa
Metuh, that since Tambuwal became the speaker on the ticket of the
"majority party (PDP), he had no right to continue to occupy the seat.
But the House said on Tuesday that the PDP and most of the
commentators on the issue were "ignorant" of the provisions of the
1999 Constitution (as amended) and the House Standing Orders.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs,
Victor Ogene, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, said Tambuwal
did not breach any law in defecting to the APC.
He also noted that there was no provision in the constitution
prescribing that the speaker must be elected from among the majority
party members.
Ogene cited Section 50 (1)(b) of the constitution to buttress his argument.
He said, "The clear provisions of Section 50(1) (b) of the Nigerian
Constitution easily settle the worries regarding the continued
speakership of Tambuwal – 'There shall be a Speaker and Deputy Speaker
of the House of Representatives who shall be elected by the members of
that House from among themselves.'''
He also noted that the speaker was elected as the representative of
the "generality of Nigerians" and not necessarily because he belonged
to a particular political party.
On the views of some "commentators" that Tambuwal should have vacated
his office by virtue of the provision of Section 68(1)(g) of the
constitution, he replied that the matter was still awaiting judicial
decision.
Ogene added, "It is common knowledge that following the defection of
37 members of the House in December 2013, from the PDP to APC, there
has been multiple court cases on the matter, thus rendering it
subjudice to discuss any likely outcome.
"Everyone is thus enjoined to await the final judicial pronouncement
on the issue of defection, which has afflicted virtually all political
parties in the land."
He warned the PDP against interfering with the lawmakers'
"privilege" and constitutionally-guaranteed freedom to choose their
leaders.
Ogene stated, "Additionally, Order 1, Rule 1 (2) of the Standing
Orders of the House of Representatives states: ' In all cases not
provided for hereinafter, or by sectional or other Orders, precedents
or practices of the House, the House shall by resolution regulate its
procedure.'