New PDP-APC Merger: Tambuwal’s Position As Speaker Remains Intact – Reps

  November 29, 2013

SPEAKER, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AMINU TAMBUWAL, GOING FOR PLENARY AS THE HOUSE RESUMED IN ABUJA

The House of Representatives said on Thursday that Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal remained its Speaker in spite of the recent development in the polity.

The Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Rep. Victor Ogene, said this while addressing parliamentary correspondents in Abuja.
Ogene (APGA-Anambra) said that unless the All Progressives Congress (APC) garnered up to 181 members, there would be no basis to discuss any change in the leadership of the House.
He also cited Section 68 (1) of the 1999 Constitution which stipulates the conditions under which members can defect to another political party, adding that there is nothing like group or mass defection.
His words: “In politics, things like this happen, but as a House we remain one. Section 68 (1) (g) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, says people cannot cross-carpet in a group except in a merger situation. But defection has to do with individual members, so if they’re defecting, the proper thing must be done by activating that section of the constitution.
“As at now, we’re not aware of any member defecting to another party. Remember, going by our rule, until a party has 181 members, you can’t talk of having the majority.”
Information Nigeria reports that before the defection of five Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors to the APC, the PDP had 208 representatives in the House, while APC had 137 members.