The
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal, said on
Sunday that it was against the law of the land for anybody to start
campaigning for elective positions in the 2015 poll when the Independent
National Electoral Commission had yet to give politicians the nod to do
so.
Tambuwal in a statement in Abuja on
Sunday, dissociated himself from the posters flooding some parts of the
Federal Capital Territory, promoting him as the presidential candidate
of the All Progressives Congress. Although, he thanked the promoters of
the idea for considering him worthy to vie for the Presidency, the
Speaker advised them not to violate the law by initiating campaign ahead
of the official declaration by INEC.
The posters had paired Tambuwal and his
Deputy, Mr. Emeka Ihedioha, as president and vice-president respectively
on the ticket of the APC.
Part of the statement, which was signed
by the Speaker’s Special Adviser, Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Imam
Imam, read, “While we thank them for deeming the Rt. Hon. Speaker fit
for future elective office in the country, let it be known that since
the Independent National Electoral Commission has not given the go-ahead
for those interested in elective positions to start mobilisation, it is
inappropriate for any person or group to print campaign posters and
have them placed in strategic locations in any part of the country.
“Laws of the Federation are meant to be obeyed by all persons irrespective of their societal status.
“As a law abiding citizen, the
Honourable Speaker will make known the direction of his political future
and intention at the appropriate time.”
The statement neither dissociated the Speaker from the APC nor stress that he remained a committed member of the PDP.
On his part, Ihedioha dismissed the
alleged links with the APC as “laughable, completely nonsensical” and
coming at a time he was on a PDP assignment with President Goodluck
Ihedioha pledged his loyalty to the PDP,
adding that since 2011, he had worked hard to reposition the party in
his home state, Imo.
A statement by his Chief Press
Secretary, Mr. Oke Epia, read, “The general public is hereby urged to
ignore the posters and see this incident as the handiwork of mischief
makers who are advised to find better things to do with their time and
resources.
“The deputy speaker is fully focused on
and committed to rebuilding the Peoples Democratic Party nationally and
in Imo State where he has remained a bulwark of the ruling party since
the opposition took over the reins of government at that level in 2011.
“Nothing can distract the deputy speaker
and other leaders of the party in Imo State from working
conscientiously to dislodge the APC government in Imo State and also
ensure victory for the party at the federal level in 2015.
“He assures his numerous supporters and
associates both in Imo State and all over Nigeria that no amount of
mischief can stop or derail the PDP train of progress moving into Imo
with the Deputy Speaker in the driver’s seat.”
In spite of consistent denials by
Tambuwal, speculation thickens that he has been considered as a possible
APC presidential candidate.
A second plan, should that fail, is that
he will probably run as the party’s governorship candidate in his home
state, Sokoto, in 2015.
Tambuwal has refused to make a categorical statement on the issue, preferring to keep mum each time it is raised.
Last month, the House caucus of the PDP
had endorsed Jonathan for a second term at a meeting held at the Aso
Rock Villa, where Tambuwal, the most senior PDP official in the House,
was absent.
The next day, Tambuwal merely blamed his absence on the excuse of being out of town to Sokoto.
He declined to comment on the outcome of the meeting, which endorsed Jonathan.
On the other hand, Ihedioha, had never been linked with the APC prior to the pasting of the controversial posters.
He is said to have his eye on the
governorship seat in his state, but has reportedly worked largely behind
the scenes for the PDP’s ticket till date.
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