APC 37: Tambuwal Denies Appealing Judgement

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House wants case to run full course SAN FRANCISCO, April 02, (THEWILL) - The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon.

Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, on Wednesday denied appealing the judgement of the Abuja Federal High Court which advised that the 37 members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who defected to All Progressives Congress (APC) should honorably vacate their seats.

The deputy chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon Victor Ogene, who made the denial said the speaker, his deputy and other principal officers did not appeal the judgement in their individual capacities.

Briefing the media after a two hour closed door session, Ogene explained that the presiding and principal officers of the House had no personal interest in the defection case involving the 37 members of the House.

Ogene also cautioned the media to be objective in their report, insisting that the Speaker and his Deputy didn't act on their own in the matter.

He explained that the Speaker and his deputy were nominal parties in the suit by virtue of their office, saying the counsel was only briefed by the Management of the National Assembly to represent the House of Representatives as an institution.

He explained that the closed door session was an avenue for the lawmakers to brainstorm on issues in the House, saying there was "nothing unusual" and "we talked to ourselves in order to get things clear about the defection matter that is already in court.

" The lawmaker noted that the House decided to allow the case in court to take its full course, taking cognizance of the precedence already set in such area.

He said the defection of Hon.
Bamidele Opeyemi (Ekiti) from APC to Labour Party (LP) was a classical example of a case pending in court.

Ogene said one of the issues discussed at the session was on the growing tendency towards partisanship among members during plenary, saying the House took a unanimous decision to set aside party affiliations and make laws for the good of Nigerians.

"This is our core mandate and the decision was well taken by all members present at the executive session," Ogene said.

On the purported pressure mounted on the speaker to declare vacant the seats of the 37 defecting lawmakers, Ogene denied that "There was no pressure on the Speaker to sack the defected legislators.

If there was, we would not have held the closed door session today (Wednesday)".

Meanwhile, the deputy speaker, Hon Emeka Ihedioha, has said that "the appeal was primarily instituted by the 37 members who defected from PDP to APC.

" In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Oke Epia, Ihedioha said he "remains a firm and committed member of the PDP and associates himself fully with its ideals, principles, purposes and progress.

" He assured that he "will take steps to retain an independent counsel of his choice .

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to protect his legal interests in the matter," saying this is necessary in order to debunk the falsehood already in public domain that he "is at odd purposes with his political party, the Peoples Democratic Party.

' SAINT MUGAGA, ABUJA.