Tambuwal foils PDP caucus plot against defected Reps

A quick intervention by the leadership of the House of Representatives on Wednesday doused tension between the Peoples Democratic Party members and their counterparts in the All Progressives Congress.

Findings showed that the PDP Caucus was bent on enforcing the “relevant aspects” of Monday’s judgment by an Abuja Federal High Court, which declared the defection of some  PDP lawmakers  in the  House to the APC as unconstitutional.

The court had also barred the lawmakers from effecting a change in the leadership of the House.

Among others, the court ruled that the defected lawmakers should no longer participate in the activities of the House, including contributing to motions on the floor.

Justice Adeniyi Ademola, who delivered the judgment, had also advised the affected lawmakers to resign honourably from the House.

Although the lawmakers had already appealed the judgment, The PUNCH learnt that the PDP caucus was bent on restraining  them  from attending sittings.

The  APC Caucus  in the House had on Tuesday  opposed the judgment on the grounds that the judge granted “reliefs” not sought by the PDP  in its  originating suit.

The caucus had argued that the “import of the judgment is that the  lawmakers cannot remove the leadership of the House, nothing more, nothing less.”

However, investigations showed that acting on an alleged directive from their national headquarters, the PDP members made moves on Wednesday to stop the  defected legislators from sitting.

Members of the caucus had held a meeting on Wednesday morning, preceding the day’s sitting, where the matter was reportedly discussed.

The APC caucus also quickly convened a similar meeting to strategise on how to respond to the plan of the PDP caucus.

The Speaker, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal, got wind of the development and hurriedly called for an executive session soon after the sitting began.

A source close to the House leadership said, “There was tension in the (Wednesday) morning. That fact was not lost on both camps. The PDP members were planning to pass a ‘psychological message’ to their APC colleagues.

“But, the APC members too had their own response strategies worked out.”

The source informed our correspondent that  there would have   been a “stormy session” but for   the executive session.

At the executive session, the leadership of the House reportedly preached peace to both sides.

The PDP Caucus members  were said to have been told to place “national unity above party affiliation.”

Findings also showed that both camps were advised to allow the court cases run their full course rather than trying to interfere.

The PUNCH learnt that the PDP caucus still resolved to meet again after the sitting to review the decisions taken at the executive session in a bid to decide on the way forward.

The Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Victor Ogene, later confirmed at a news conference that the executive session was devoted to the court judgment.

According to him, the speaker called on the session to allow members talk frankly to one another.

He said the session observed that it was the tradition of the House not to interfere with ongoing cases in courts.

Ogene said, “We decided to talk (frontally) among ourselves; to get each other’s viewpoint.

“We also talked on the need to allow the different court cases on defection to run their full course.

“We have had instances where members who defected earlier before now are still participating in the activities of the House.

“So, let us allow the cases to run their full course.”

He  also said the session expressed concern over the growing influence of political parties on the conduct of the House, especially during plenaries.

The lawmaker added, “There is so much of party affiliation creeping into our activities, compared to when the 7th House started in June 2011.

“That point was well taken by all the members present at the executive session.”

Ogene denied that Tambuwal was under pressure to declare the seats of the defected  lawmakers vacant, a reason that could have explained his calling the executive session.

“There was no pressure on Mr. Speaker to declare anybody’s seat vacant. There was nothing like that. I can tell you that the speaker is not under pressure,” he  insisted.

Ogene  also denied media reports indicating that Tambuwal and his deputy, Mr. Emeka Ihedioha, appealed the judgment in their personal capacity as presiding officers.

He explained that the two officials were joined as respondents in the suit, not that they originated the suit in the first place.

Ogene added that it would have been appropriate to report that the  defected  lawmakers had appealed the judgment since they were the ones directly affected, not the speaker.

Ihedioha himself also    explained that he could not have appealed the judgment because he was merely a “nominal party” to the case.

In a statement by his  Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Oke Epia, he  complained that the reports created a wrong impression that he was against the   interest of the PDP.

Part of  the statement   reads,  “For the avoidance of doubt, the   Deputy Speaker wishes to clarify that he is just a  nominal party  in the suit by virtue of his office and counsel was briefed by the management of the National Assembly to represent the House of Representatives as an institution.

“The appeal was primarily instituted by the  members who defected from the PDP to the APC.”

PUNCHNG