The question on the lips of most Nigerians since learning on Monday that the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, attended a meeting of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in his native Sokoto State is whether he has fully made up his mind to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the party through which he got elected into the House and through which he became Speaker.
Tambuwal attended the meeting of APC stakeholders on Monday, with analysts believing that this is just a prelude to his formal declaration for the APC which he is believed to have sympathy for.
The meeting was also attended by Inuwa Abdulkadir, the former Minister of Youth Development who served in President Goodluck Jonathan’s cabinet before he was sacked, as well as the state governor, Aliyu Wamako.
It is not known how soon the Speaker would declare, but his political friend and governor of Sokoto, Wamako, is currently a member of the APC.
Before now, the Speaker had often shunned meetings of the National Working Committee of PDP and other major functions of the party, while in contrast, attending many events organised by APC.
At one point when he was accused by his party of romancing the APC, he replied that he is the Speaker of the nation and not just of the PDP and as such should be seen as doing his job.
He is also seen by President Goodluck Jonathan and his loyalists as a major critic of the government.
Tambuwal also has a lot of support in his home state as the Sultan of Sokoto, Mohammed Sa’ad, recently honoured him with a title.
Many are already speculating that Tambuwal would further pull some members from the PDP if he eventually defects.
Tambuwal recently visited former President Olusegun Obasanjo and after a closed-door meeting with the former president, he said his visit was for consultation with Obasanjo.
It is believed that he could contest for the governorship election in the state under the APC.
Why I Attended APC Meeting ― Tambuwal
Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of the House of Representatives late Monday confirmed attending the meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Sokoto State, referring to the meeting as one with a ‘political family’.
Tambuwal said he was provoked to attend the meeting after a delegation of top Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members led by its chairman, Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih, visited the state on Monday and snubbed him.
The delegation had visited the state for a reconciliation exercise, but failed to invite Tambuwal or even visit him despite knowing that he was one of the aggrieved party members and a member of the National Working Committee of the party.
Though he said he was still consulting widely for his political future, the Speaker, who has been having a running battle with the PDP, said after the delegation snubbed him, he was invited by Aliyu Wammako, the state governor to attend the stakeholders’ meeting of the APC to which he obliged.
In a statement signed by his spokesman, Imam Imam, Tambuwal said he was “later invited by His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, to attend the meeting of their political family to discuss the political future of Sokoto State,” adding that prominent indigenes and residents of the state who do not have any known political associations were also part of the meeting.
