HOW TINUBU BEAT PDP, EFCC TO INSTALL TANBUWAL AS SPEAKER

How Tinubu Made Mockery of PDP to Install Tambuwal as Speaker

…….Tambuwal,Ihedioha disguised to beat EFCC

A political strategy devised by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) was what saved rebellious members of the House of Representatives of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in last Monday’s election of the Speaker.

Top PDP chieftains had stormed the Lower Chamber on the voting day to force compliance with the zoning formula of the party.
The party had adopted Mrs Mulikat Adeola-Akande from Oyo State for the job to give the position to the South-West.
Sensing that some members may do otherwise, a plan making it mandatory for Reps to write their names and constituencies on their ballot papers was then hatched and adopted for the election which was supposed to be open-secret.

Despite the apprehension, the anti-zoning Reps were encouraged to damn the consequences and vote Aminu Waziri Tambuwal from Sokoto State (North-West).
Before then, the party in conjunction with the Presidency had placed the rebellious Reps under close watch and indeed held several meetings with them to browbeat them to the toe their fine. There was nothing in their countenance and disposition to suggest that they were all out to disobey the party and risk sanctions.
The patty was stunned when Hon. Tambuwal was nominated; contrary to instructions that only Akande-Adeola should be nominated and returned unopposed former BoT Chairman, Chief Tony Anenih immediately left the chambers in anger. The Acting National Chairman, Dr Haliru Bello, was to follow midway into proceedings when it was clear that Tambuwal had won the day.
The ACN, which equally had its leadership cadre in the chambers seized the momentum and directed affairs, remotely.

The ACN had discountenanced the PDP’s zoning of the slot to its South-West stronghold as it felt it could re-awaken the party in the zone again.
An old political warhorse within the ACN, immediately came up with a strategy to beat the PDP apparatchik and restore confidence in the restive PDP lawmakers-elect.
Daily Sun learnt that as soon as Tambuwal won the election by 252 votes to Adeola-Akande’s 90, the politician immediately passed many killer messages to Tambuwal.

He was said to have passed a note to the new Speaker, to immediately use his powers to retrieve all the ballot papers from the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kabir Maikasuwa.
Consequently, the Clerk immediately handed the cards, in an envelope to Tambuwal for ‘safekeeping’ away from the prying eyes of the PDP leadership.

The ACN leader who craved anonymity said this was necessary to conceal the identity of the Reps and save them from an impending sledge hammer of the PDP.
According to him, it was totally unacceptable to prevent members of the House from appointing who to lead them.

Specifically, he said the party deluded itself into believing that it could coerce the lawmakers into doing what was against their conscience.
As early as 9.35 am, Tambuwal and Ihedioha who belonged to the same camp and had resolved to challenge the parties zoning formula disguised in dresses they are never known with apparently to avoid being arrested in connection with the N10 billion loan scam for which former Speaker, Dimeji Bankole is currently being held by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). While Tambuwal who is known for his flowing baban riga was dressed in a pair of suit and a bowler cap to fit, Ihedioha noted for his Ibo traditional attire with his green cap chose to dress in a white agbada and mallam-like cap.
Indications that Tambuwal and Ihedioha would come out victorious emerged as soon as the duo sauntered into the chambers in their new outlook. Almost every member on the floor went to pay homage to Tambuwal as the shouts of ‘sai Tambuwal’ rent the air.
When the clerk began the roll call of members at 11.30 am and it came to the turn of Tambuwal and Ihedioha, the whole chambers went into frenzy. Although, Adeola-Akande’s supporters also attempted a similar solidarity, it was not as resounding as the standing ovation received by her fellow competitor. At exactly 12.02 pm, the clerk of the House Sani Omolori called for nomination for the position of Speaker and Deputy Speaker. Hon. Emmanuel Jime (PDP, Benue) quickly stepped out and nominated Tambuwal. The nomination was seconded by Hon. Nnena Ukeje (PDP, Abia) while Hon. Bethel Amadi (PDP, Imo) nominated Adeola-Akande and seconded by Saidu Namadi (PDP, Jigawa).

The voting, which was conducted with the supervision of the Clerk of the National Assembly (CNA), Alhaji Salisu Kasuwa and his deputy lasted for almost four hours. The exercise ended at 3.49 pm while counting of votes commenced at 3.52 pm.
The Sunshine VOICE gathered that one member abstained and eight votes were declared invalid. After the result was announced by the clerk of the House, the new Speaker was immediately sworn in. His landslide victory forestalled further election for the position of Deputy Speaker as Hon. Dogara Yakubu and Ishaku Bawa who were also gunning for the position of Deputy Speaker withdrew thereby clearing the coast for the emergence of Ihedioha without a contest.
In his acceptance speech, Tambuwal said the House was the house of the people and they had spoken through the election of the two of them. He said the focus of his administration would be to strengthen the rule of law and collaborate with the executive to provide qualitative leadership to Nigerians.
He thanked the President for starting very well and enjoined all the lawmakers to give him the support to steer the ship of leadership smoothly, saying he cannot do it alone.
Incidentally, Tambuwal was Deputy Chief Whip while Ihedioha was Chief Whip respectively in the 6th House of Representatives