Politics
Tambuwal: Not An Easy Road To Travel
When the speaker of the
House of Representatives, Animu Tambuwal dumped the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on which platform he was elected and “ported” into the opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), little did he know that the move would be a long walk to his travails and politics in Nigeria.
In October 28, 2014, Tambuwal had told the House at the close of its plenary session that he decided to defect to APC, after months of speculations, because the PDP he knows is no longer democratic, hence the need for change. Many saw Tambuwal’s defection as a betrayal of the highest order which must not go unpunished, at least to teach a lesson to Tambuwal and his likes for plotting to make PDP a laughing stock.
Prior to his defection, Tambuwal was accused of betraying the decision of PDP leadership when he reportedly took away the speaker’s job meant for another House member, Mulikat Akande-Adeola from South West zone, Nigeria, The PDP had anointed Akande-Adeola for the speaker’s job, but Tambuwal connived with the then ACN members in the House and skillfully manoeuvred election of the speaker to his favour: thus denying the South West a position of political reckoning zoned to it.
Since then, Tambuwal was seen as a rebel and a man that can’t be trusted and must be watched. At the turn of events in the PDP crisis, Tambuwal was fingered in the dance game that resulted in the defection of five PDP governors and a sizeable number of legislators to the APC.
Even more noticeable is the absence of Tambuwal at PDP caucus and stakeholders’ meetings
For instances, at the PDP North West meeting that endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan for the 2015 Presidency, Tambuwal among key members of the party, were conspicuously absent. The height of Tambunal’s sin of disobedience manifested when he was also absent at the PDP national working committee (NWC) meeting that okayed Jonathan for 2015 presidential race. The speaker’s comments concerning PDP position on certain issues, policies of federal government and the Presidency were visibly unbecoming.
After a long period of his ‘hide and seek’ game, Tambuwal eventually defected to APC on October 28, 2014 with smiles of victory and the reactions that followed his action were arguably understandable. The PDP asked Tambuwal to resign as speaker or be impeached. Government followed the threat with the withdrawal of security personnel attached to the office of the speaker. The PDP also set machinery in motion to compel its caucus in the House to reconvene on Tuesday, November 4,2014, instead of December 3 which the speaker had adjourned sitting of the House.
Sensing danger of his possible impeachment if the House reconvened that date, Tambuwal and his new party, APC promptly approached the court which ordered that the status quo in the House be maintained till further notice. With that court relief, Tambuwal dared the PDP and arrived at the National Assembly complex to declare open public hearings by two committees of the House.
The speaker who personally drove his official Range Rover SUV into the premises of the complex without security personnel was, however, shielded to the venues of the sittings by APC lawmakers led by the chairman, House committee on education, Aminu Suleiman.
Against all odds, there came the commotion at the National Assembly on November 20, 2014 as the plot to stop Tambuwal from entering the Assembly complex failed. It was a dishonourable scene to behold as honourable lawmakers who were prevented from entering through the gate reportedly exchanged hot words with the security and scaled the gate to the main complex. Riot policemen also tear-gased angry lawmakers who protested against the development.
Not only did APC described the action of the police as threat to democracy, it further called for the head of the police in Nigeria. While the Senators and House members fumed, the Presidency and Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Sulieman Abba justified the deployment of security operatives, saying it was to defend the constitution and prevent a breakdown of law and order.
The senior special assistant to the President on public affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, at a news conference, said it would be wrong for the public to assume that the IG acted on orders from the Presidency when the IG, as a very senior security officer has duties to defend and enforce the law.
Abba who appeared before the House committee on Police Affairs led by Usman Bello-Kurmo to explain why the police shut the gates of the National Assembly against lawmakers and also tear-gased them, did not help matters in Tambuwal’s travails as he (IG) did not recognise Tambuwal as speaker. The IG simply addressed him as “Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal”, a title that angered members of the House committee. Abba insisted that it would be “subjudice” for him to address Tambuwal as speaker or any matter relating to him so long as such matter was in court.
Though, members boiled with anger over IG’s attitude not to use the word “speaker” when referring to Tambuwal, they stormed out of the venue angrily and stopped Bello-Kurmo from shaking hands with Abba or seeing him off to the door. And the committee resolved that the discussions would not hold as long as the IG would not accord Tambuwal his due respect.
Just when everybody perhaps was thinking that time would heal the wound in the status of Tambuwal at the House, the speaker’s erstwhile party, PDP, had filed a fresh suit seeking an order compelling the speaker to declare himself as no longer fit to represent the Kebbe/Tambuwal Federal constituency at the lower chambers of the National Assembly.
The PDP’s suit re-opened the old wound even as the suit filed by Tambuwal seeking to stop his removal and subsequent declaration of his seat vacant on account of his defection to APC is pending in court.
But in the PDP’s suit which Justice Ahmed Mohammed had granted an ex parte application by the party to commence its suit against Tambawal, the office of the speaker, Tambuwal himself and the deputy speaker, Emeka Ihedioha are respondents to the suit. Relying on section 68 (1) (g) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, the PDP argued that “Tambuwal’s defection from the party which sponsored his election to the House amounted to losing his seat.
Under Section 68 (2) of the Constitution, the ruling party stated that it was mandatory for Tambuwal as speaker of the House to declare as vacant the Kebbe/Tambuwal seat, whose occupant had defected from the party that sponsored him to the House.
In the suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/901/2014, “seeking an order of mandamus”, the PDP is praying for an order of injunction restraining Tambuwal from performing or continue to perform the function of the House speaker.
“In the alternative, an order of court compelling the 3rd respondent (Deputy Speaker Ihedioha) to declare the Kebbe/Tambuwal seat vacant by an order of mandamus in terms of relief (a) supra,” the PDP suit added.
While Tambuwal had too many legal questions arising from the PDP suit, to answer, another House member. Abidun Akinlade, added additional load to Tambuwal’s legal battle. In the suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/871/2014, Akinlade (plaintiff) apart from seeking an order declaring Tambuwal’s seat vacant on account of his defection from the PDP, also sought a “judicial interpretation” of an earlier judgment of Justice Evoh Chukwu where it held that there was no division in the PDP.
From simple interpretation, the aim of the fresh suit is to justify the PDP’s stance that the defection of Tambuwal from PDP to APC on October 28,2014 was “illegal” and in breach of section 68(1)(g) of the 1999 constitution as amended.
Akinlade’s suit assigned to Justice E.S.J.Chukwu of Court 8, however, rattled Tambuwal who promptly petitioned the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court against the suit assigned to Justice Chukwu, claiming that “the presiding judge, Justice Chukwu, ESJ, having made a pronouncement on similar issues, in similar cases, decided by him, clearly shows that he has an iron-cast judicial position or opinion in respect of suit NO. FHC/ABJ/CS/871/2014, concerning me sir, which has been assigned to him.”
Tambuwal’s petition apparently forced Justice Chukwu to withdraw from the matter and returned the case file to Chief Judge for re-assessment to another judge.
But Tambuwal’s joy in forcing Justice Chukwu to withdraw from fresh anti-Tambuwal suit was momentory as the people of Kebbe/Tambuwal Federal Constituency in Sokoto State who are being represented by the Speaker at the House, on Monday, December 1, 2014, failed in their bid to become a party in a suit filed by Tambuwal himself to stop his removal from office and a member of the House.
The consitutents of Tambuwal, instead of seeking to be joined along with the speaker as palntiffs, had sought to be joined as co-defendants, but Justice Ahmed Mohammed, in his ruling dismissed the two separate applications filed in the name of the constituents, saying they are “unmeritorious”.
One thing leads to another. About two days after the “unmeritorious” suits were thrown out, Tambuwal’s constituents were back in court where they informed the court that they had filed separate applications seeking leave to appeal against the court ruling based on what they called “mixed law and facts”.
In addition to notices of appeal, the constituents also filed applications for stay of proceedings, and the development stalled the hearing of Tambuwal’s application seeking an order of court to jail the IG for allegedly flouting an order of the court.
While the legal battles last, Tambuwal also has an electoral burden in about eight weeks time, to take a political walk to Sokoto State to actualise his dream to be the next governor under APC platform.
Though intrigues, distractions, mischief, legal fireworks, political rivalry etc may be some of the features associated with Nigeria’s democracy, the truth remains that the rain started beating Tambuwal the day he went against the wishes of his erstwhile party (PDP) and the ruling party may have vowed to bring him down. Indeed, it is not an easy road for Tambuwal to travel on his political journey.
Samuel Eleonu
Aminu Tambuwal
The Senate has confirmed Professor Joash Amupitan as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The Red Chamber confirmed Amupitan after a voice vote conducted by Senate President Godswill Akpabio and after undergoing screening and answering questions posed by the lawmakers.
Amupitan had earlier arrived at the National Assembly complex earlier, exchanged pleasantries with Senators.
He was accompanied to the chamber by the Governor of Kogi State, Ahmed Ododo, and other dignitaries.
At about 12:50 p.m., the nominee was ushered into the Senate chamber by the Presidential Adviser on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Abubakar Lado, and was already seated ahead of the commencement of the exercise.
Amupitan was allowed into the hallowed chamber after the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), moved that Order 12 be set aside to allow visitors into the chamber, and he was seconded by the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro (PDP, Benue South).
Senate President Godswill Akpabio welcomed Amupitan, his family members, and well-wishers to the Red Chamber, commending them for their presence.
Before introducing himself to the Senators for the question and answer session to take off, Akpabio disclosed to his colleagues that the nominee had been cleared by the office of the National Security Adviser after vetting.
According to Akpabio, the office of the Department of State Services had also cleared him.
The Senate President also said that the Office of the Inspector-General of Police, having done a fingerprint search on him, cleared him and said that he had no criminal records with the police.
The screening exercise commenced at about 12:55 p.m. following Akpabio’s opening remarks, during which he outlined the procedures to be followed by the lawmakers in considering the nominee’s credentials.
The screening session focused on Amupitan’s vision for credible elections, his plans for institutional reforms within INEC, and measures to deepen the use of technology in Nigeria’s electoral process.
Following his confirmation by the Senate, Amupitan will oversee preparations for upcoming off-cycle governorship elections and lay the groundwork for the 2027 general elections.
The Tide source earlier reported that President Bola Tinubu had nominated Amupitan, a Professor of Law from the University of Jos, to succeed Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.
The President’s letter conveying Amupitan’s nomination was read on the floor of the Senate by Akpabio during plenary on Tuesday.
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria and former Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Jos, Amupitan, is widely regarded for his expertise in constitutional and international law.
He said, although he was deeply concerned about some governors and lawmakers defecting to the APC, the party was working quietly behind the scenes to stabilise its ranks and rebuild public trust.
“If you ask me whether I’m concerned about our governors leaving for APC, I am more than concerned. But leadership is a burden. As a leader of a group of equal status, I cannot determine the decisions or inactions of my colleagues, but certainly, a lot of work is being done behind the scenes,” he said.
The Bauchi governor accused the APC-led federal government of using coercive tactics to weaken the opposition, saying the ruling party was bent on turning Nigeria into a one-party state.
“You know the style of leadership of the APC-led federal government in trying to make this country a one-party state. They have the power of coercion; they have the power of everything,” he said.
Governor Mohammed, however, maintained that the defections would not derail the PDP’s resurgence, stressing that most Nigerians at the grassroots remained loyal to the party.
“Even those who left are not finding it easier because most of the people at the grassroots level are PDP and are not happy with the defections. Sometimes it is done because of permutations and calculations. But I assure you I am not going anywhere. I am in PDP, and my state has no element of division,” he explained.
Governor Mohammed revealed that more defections could occur, including from lawmakers in his state, but insisted the PDP structure in Bauchi remained solid.
“Even today, I saw in the news that one of my senators is going. They are being controlled, they are being bought, but certainly, the state is PDP. Nigerians want change, and they believe they can get it through the PDP,” he stated.
The governor emphasised that the PDP had laid the foundation for most of Nigeria’s measurable achievements under successive governments and that the party remained the only credible platform capable of providing national renewal.
“Most of the measurable achievements by the federal government were done by PDP regimes. By the grace of God, if we stand firm, we will deliver. Some of us who won as governors were not even considered capable, and here we are. That’s what will play out in 2027,” he said.
Addressing concerns over potential threats to the forthcoming convention, the PDP stalwart said the party leadership was working to resolve internal disputes and litigations aimed at destabilising preparations.
“I cannot speak for the National Working Committee, but as a leader within the party, I know they are doing their best to address issues of litigations. Many are artificially created to undermine us, but we don’t have any faction in the PDP,” he said.
He noted that while some individuals had approached the courts to stop the party’s convention, the PDP remained more organised than most opposition parties.
“Comparatively, most of the other parties are not better off than us. We are better off than most opposition parties. We are the only ones intact; with one National Secretary, one National Chairman, and one Publicity Secretary. This meeting gives hope that at the end of the day, we will deliver,” he said.
On reports of Governor Peter Mbah’s rumoured defection from the PDP, Governor Mohammed said Governor Mbah had not formally declared any intention to leave and remained a respected colleague.
“Actually, Governor Mbah has not told us his position. It is a personal decision. We cannot remove his picture before he leaves. When he leaves, we will replace him with another person. Up till now, he has not told me he’s leaving,” he said.
He also dismissed speculation surrounding Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State, describing him as a loyal member of the PDP who had endured significant challenges in office.
“He has not left the party; he is still PDP. Everybody has his own style. He is a humble young man who has gone through so much and has done well to accommodate all the problems and challenges he found himself in,” he said.
Commenting on speculations about a possible 2027 presidential project involving former President Goodluck Jonathan, the Bauchi governor said the PDP remained open to prominent figures who wished to return or associate with the party.
“People are still interested in this party, and these big names being associated with us make us happy. As governors, we have resolved to put personal interests aside. We are united and will come up with leadership that will be the best choice for Nigerians to put in Aso Rock, inshallah,” he stated.
Governor Mohammed reaffirmed his commitment to the PDP and expressed optimism that new, visionary leaders would emerge from the party in 2027 to defeat what he called the APC’s ‘deceptive’ style of politics.
“If somebody goes, just like a bird, they go, they come. Please, don’t blame anybody at the governors’ level; we are doing our best, but it is beyond our control,” he said.
In a statement following his recent visit to the United States and Rome, Mr Obi said he used the pilgrimage as an opportunity to seek divine intervention for Nigeria’s unity, peace, and responsible leadership.
He stated that after addressing members of the Friendship Club in the US and speaking at the 1st Ubuntu African Youth Assembly in Washington, he proceeded to Rome to join his wife for a spiritual retreat.
“With hearts full of gratitude, we thanked God that, despite our differences and the many challenges faced over 65 years of independence, He has kept us together as one nation,” Mr Obi said.
During the pilgrimage, the couple visited the four major Papal Basilicas in Rome — St. Mary Major, St. Paul Outside the Walls, St. John Lateran, and St. Peter’s Basilica — where they met with other Nigerian pilgrims.
“Along the way, we met many Nigerian pilgrims: men and women of faith whose faces shone with quiet hope. Together, we renewed our trust in God’s mercy and in the promise of a better Nigeria,” he added.
Reaffirming his faith in both divine providence and civic duty, Mr Obi maintained that prayer must be matched with personal and collective effort.
“Faith does not absolve us of responsibility; it calls us to action. We must each continue to do our part, with honesty, diligence, and love, for our nation’s healing and progress,” he said.
Mr Obi was accompanied by his wife, Margaret, during the pilgrimage, which also included an audience with His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV, at the Vatican City.