Even after an Abuja Division of the Federal High Court issued an interim order of injunction stopping the House from reconvening until Friday when a motion ex-parte lodged before it by the embattled Speaker of the House, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, will be heard.
Sources close to the presidency revealed that the president who could not hide his anger told some ranking members of the House at a meeting at the Presidential Villa on Friday night to immediately start moves towards Tambuwal’s ouster.
Justice Ahmed Mohammed, who gave the order, also directed the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, its Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’Azu and five other defendants in the matter, to appear before the court on that date to show cause why the reliefs being sought by the Speaker should not be granted.
Sources say angry President Jonathan blamed the PDP Lawmakers them for allowing the speaker to exhibit such control over them without protecting his interest.
“We had to apologise to him and promised to carry out his instructions to remove the speaker. Towards this end, we’ve summoned all our members to reach Abuja today (yesterday) unfailingly to attend a meeting with our party leaders.” The source claims.
And the Jostle to replace Tambuwal begins. A four-term lawmaker, Bashir Adamu (PDP, Jigawa) has been tipped to replace Tambuwal.
Also being considered is Usman Kumho, but from all indications he does not have a strong support base to become speaker.
According to the arrangement, deputy speaker Emeka Ihedioha will not be impeached. The source said “it is virtually impossible because we can’t lose two strong PDP lawmakers. We’ve lost Tambuwal. So, Ihedioha remains for now and that is not really our challenge.”
An APC lawmaker from Rivers State, Ogbonna Nwuke, said that the PDP lawmakers did not have the required two-third majority to oust the Speaker.
He said: “Let me say this to you. It’s not possible for PDP lawmakers to muster two third majority. They don’t have it. The only way they can get that is if some APC lawmakers decide to betray the party. But that is not possible.”
