Speaker Tambuwal Resigns, Hands Over to Deputy Speaker Over Transition

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines Tuesday, May 26th, 2015

By Ganiyu Nasirudeen – The speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, has relinquished his position and handed over to his Deputy, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, in view of the approaching transition to a new administration, at both State and Federal levels.

Hon. Tambuwal, who is the Governor-elect of his home State Sokoto, explained that his decision to transfer power to his Deputy, before Friday, May 29, was to avert a possible constitutional crisis of him taking oath of office for two different offices. His tenure as the Speaker originally lapses June 6 – over a week after he might have been sworn in as Governor of the North Western State.

Tambuwal disclosed that the decision was collective by the leadership of the House, cited the 1999 Constitution which he indicated did not envisage a situation where the Speaker would leave one office for another, while the oath taken for the current office was subsisting.

He added that under the Standing Orders of the House, a “Speaker Pro-tempore” was required to be elected by members of the House, to run its affairs for any period until the substantive Speaker would not be available.

In a related development, a strong aspirant for the post of the Speakership for the 8th National Assembly, Hon. Mohammed Monguno, also Tuesday voluntarily bowed out of the race.

The returning Federal Lawmaker from Borno State, announced he stepped down for more favored and returning colleague, the Minority Leader, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, who is representing Surulere Federal constituency of Lagos State. The former is speculated to emerge the Deputy Speaker.