Jonathan Meets PDP Leaders Over Tambuwal's Defection

Vincent Ehiabhi,

President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday had a closed door meeting with the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), some governors and leaders of the House of Representatives over the defection of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

President Goodluck Jonathan

ThisDay reports that the meeting is against the backdrop of the alleged plans by the Majority
Leader of the House of Representatives, Mulikat Akande-Adeola (PDP, Oyo) and other some key PDP members of the House to challenge Tambuwal’s defection.
It was gathered that the President is worried that the defection of the Speaker could have adverse effect on the political fortunes of the PDP, especially in the forthcoming elections.
It would be recalled that the Tambuwal on Tuesday defected from the ruling PDP to the major opposition party, APC, to contest for the number seat in 2015, in his hometown of Sokoto.

 

His defection was greeted by calls on him to resign to allow another person from PDP take over the leadership of the House as Speaker. He was said to have expressed optimism that he would remain the speaker of the lower house because PDP will not be able to gather two-thirds majority required by the constitution to impeach him.

Tambuwal was said to have adjourned the House till December 3, as part of efforts to stall and frustrate every move by the PDP to remove him.
Although those that attended the meeting declined to say anything about the outcome of the meeting, there were suggestions that the officials led by the party’s National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, strategised on the next step to tackle Tambuwal defection.
Those in attendance are Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and Akwa-Ibom State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, Governors of Bayelsa, Henry Seriake-Dickson, Benue, Gabriel Suswam, Gombe, Ibrahim Dankwambo and their Enugu State counterpart, Sullivan Chime.

Others include the Deputy Speaker of the House, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, the Deputy Leader of the House, Hon. Leo Ogor, Chairman, House Committee on Health, Ndudi Elumelu amongst others.
Meanwhile, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, on Wednesday October 29, 2014, reportedly led more than 50 members of the house to the APC mini convention in Abuja.