Tambuwal No More Speaker—Police

The Nigeria Police has given reason for withdrawing security personnel attached to Speaker of House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, who defected from the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, on Tuesday to the All Progressives Congress, APC, a major opposition party in Nigeria.

Barely 48 hours after Tambuwal’s defection, his security aides were redeployed by the Federal Government, a move that has been condemned by many Nigerians and the APC.

Giving reason for its move, the Police claimed Tambuwal’s defection from the PDP meant he was no more the Speaker of the House since he was elected to the House under the platform of the party, where he was elected Speaker by his colleagues.

In a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja, the Force Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel Ojukwu, stated that by virtue of Section 68 (1) (g)of the 1999 Constitution as amended, Tambuwal was no more the Speaker.

“In view of the recent defection by the Right Honourable Aminu Waziri Tanbuwal, CFR, the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, from the People Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressive Congress (APC), and having regard to the clear provision of Section 68 (1) (g) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has redeployed its personnel attached to his office.”

On Wednesday, Tambuwal was received into the APC at an emergency convention in Abuja. The Speaker said he left the PDP to secure his political future.