Nwoye: Students Give Tambuwal 72-Hour Ultimatum

ABUJA, March 20, (THEWILL) - The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students,NANS, and the Forum of Ex-NANS Leaders Wednesday threatened to take over the National Assembly complex beginning from March 26 should the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal fail to swear in a former president of NANS, Comrade Tony Nwoye, who they claimed was the authentic candidate for the Anambra East/West federal constituency of Anambra State in the 2011 general election. Hon. Chriscato Ameke is presently occupying the seat in question.

The groups handed down a 72 hour ultimatum to the speaker to accede to their request or face their wrath at a press briefing jointly addressed by NANS National President, Comrade Yinka Gbadebo and Chairman, Forum of Ex-NANS Leaders, Comrade Femi Osabinu in Abuja.

The groups said they would not give in to the alleged maltreatment being meted out to Comrade Nwoye who also was former chairman of PDP in Anambra State.

Comrade Gbadebo and Comrade Osabinu expressly noted: "We the members and Executives of the National Association of Nigerian Students led by Comrade Yinka Gbadebo (The NANS President) in conjunction with the leadership of Forum of Ex-NANS Leaders led by Comr. Femi Osabinu (Chairman FOREX) have critically x-rayed happenings within the ranks and files, nooks and crannies of the National Assembly vis-a-vis the judgment of a Federal High Court in a case between Comrade Tony Nwoye, a former President of NANS (2004/2005) and one Mr. Ameke Chriscato, on the legitimacy of who was legally elected a representative of Anambra East/West Federal constituency, an election which held in 2011".

They claimed that, in the course of their investigations, they discovered that Comrade Nwoye was the rightful winner of the seat.

The two leaders said that "a 72 hour ultimatum is given by NANS to all members of the National Assembly, with exception to none to convene as a matter of urgency and address the matter with a view to review matters as it were and respect the Court judgments, the legal adviser's recommendation, the four man panel recommendation and swear Comrade. Tony Nwoye, a former President of NANS, a stakeholder of NANS, a life member of NANS, a cherished leader of NANS as a member of the Federal House of Representatives (Anambra East/West Federal constituency)."

They added that failure to comply shall be greeted with a mass protest on March 26.

According to them, "the Honourable Speaker of the House of Representatives Mr. Aminu Tambuwal, the Clerk, and the Deputy Speaker have been illegally, unlawfully, and unconstitutionally sustaining Mr. Chriscato Ameke in the House of Representatives.

"The Speaker and the leadership of the House has been unlawfully and illegally paying Mr. Chriscato since 17th July, 2012 when the court declared Comrade Tony Nwoye winner of the seat."

According to them,"despite the fact that Comrade Nwoye has been issued a certificate of return, and INEC has withdrawn that of Mr. Chriscato Ameke, the continuous stay of Mr. Chriscato is tantamount to gross misconduct, illegality, abuse of power, in discipline, lawlessness, and absolute unconstitutional by a gathering that is meant to draw the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria".