Despite the denial by his media aide Imam Imam, TheCable reports registered as a member of the All Progressives Party (APC )on Monday evening at his hometown, Tambuwal, in Sokoto state, and the People’s Democratic Party has concluded plans on how to deal with him.
Reports are that Tambuwal is only watching for reactions from his former party before taking the next step of formally announcing his defection. PDP insiders have informed TheCable that the party will move against Tambuwal “both politically and legally”. One of the options being worked upon is for a member of the house of reps to institute a legal action to seek the removal of Tambuwal as speaker. But they will have to wait for Tambuwal to make the official pronouncement.
“He has his cards close to his chest. But it is a done deal. Tambuwal is officially a member of APC and will, insha Allah, vie for the governorship of Sokoto state in 2015,” An associate of Tambuwal said on Tuesday
However, Tambuwal, has chosen to thread carefully so as to escape whatever removal plan is been hatched by the PDP. “We do not have the numbers. We need 240 out of the 360 lawmakers to remove him. There is no such chance,” a ranking PDP member said. PDP currently has less than 200 members in the house due to defection of its members to the APC
Tambuwal through his media aide, Imam had on Monday said that he didn’t attend the PDP reconciliation meeting because he was not invited but the Secreatary of the PDP Board of Trustees, Senator Walid Jubrin said Tambuwal was not invited because they learnt that he was going to attend an APC meeting
“Pictures don’t lie. He was at the APC stakeholders meeting and the pictures are in the newspapers and he has not denied them. Though, he is has not returned the PDP membership card, it would be futile to invite him to our reconciliatory meeting.”
“Though, we planned to invite him because he is a senior citizen of the country and with respect to the office he is holding, we intend to invite him separately, I don’t think it is necessary again, since he has started attending the APC meeting, albeit openly.” Jubrin said
On Tuesday , the PDP held separate meeting at the Legacy House of the party in Abuja to consider the report that Tambawal attended the APC meeting in Sokoto. The Party will again meet on Wednesday (today) to consider the disciplinary action against Tambuwal for what it termed “anti-party activities”
The PDP national publicity secretary, Olisa Metuh had on Monday said that the party will take no action until there is an official confirmation of Tambuwal’s defection. He said the party will not act based on insinuations and rumours.
