The Sokoto State chapter of the PDP was also instigated to expel Tambuwal for alleged anti-party activities over his romance with the opposition but that plot also failed owing largely to the Speaker’s strong connections with some influential elements in the state who protested against the move. Governor Wamakko was also said to have prevailed on the party chieftains in Tambuwal’s local government at that time, not to allow themselves be used to disturb the peace of the state.

Following calls by the PDP for Tambuwal to resign and allow the party to produce another speaker from its members, stakeholders have picked holes in the party’s position.

The APC, through its national publicity secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said those calling for Tambuwal’s resignation over his defection, do not have the backing of history and the constitution in their quest. He recalled that in 1983, when the NPN did not have the two-third majority in the National Assembly, it entered into an accord with NPP with which it shared the leadership of both arms of the National Assembly at that time.

“When the accord concordial broke down, the then Speaker, Chief Edwin Ume Ezeoke, a member of the minority NPP, did not relinquish his position. Those who are saying this has not happened before and that Tambuwal should step aside as speaker, do not have the backing of history and the constitution,” he said.

Similarly, the APC Caucus in the House, led by Femi Gbajabiamila, a lawyer, said that nothing had changed in the House as all members would work together for the advancement of the Parliament and greater good of the Nigerian people. He said Tambuwal remains not only a member of the House of Representatives, but also its Speaker, a position that is consistent with the law and practice in a presidential system of government.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the constitution requires only that the Speaker or the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives shall be elected by members of that House from among themselves,” he stated.

In the same vein, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, a senior advocate, pointed out that what the constitution specifies in relation to the election of a Speaker of the House or Representatives, is that such a person must be elected from the members of the House: “The constitution did not state that the speaker must belong to a certain political party. It only states that the members must elect the speaker from amongst themselves as elected representatives of different political parties.” He added that Tambuwal became the speaker at the pleasure of the members of the House and will remain such as long as he enjoys the confidence of his fellow legislators, whether or not he belongs to the majority party.

In support of these views, Chief Mike Ozekhome, another senior advocate, noted that Tambuwal need not resign on account of his defection, pointing out that his election as the Speaker was by the members of the House and that it will only take the same members to reject him as their Speaker and not the PDP. He observed that Tambuwal can still retain his office if he is able to creatively navigate his way through the shark-infested waters of the House.

Mulling over the possibility of impeaching Tambuwal, the Deputy Majority Leader of the House, Leo Ogor, a PDP member, expressed concern over the ability of the party to mobilise two-thirds of the House membership to effect a regime change.

“According to the constitution, you would need a two-thirds majority to remove a sitting Speaker. Do we have two-thirds? That is another matter we need to ponder over”.