The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, on Tuesday officially defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC.

According to the Speaker, his defection was in conformity with the 1999 Constitution as amended and followed developments in People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in his home state, Sokoto.

 Tambuwal announced his defection at the end of Tuesday’s plenary and he immediately adjourned sitting until December 3, a move many suggested was to foil any likely move by the PDP – dominated House to impeach him.

The PDP has a majority in the House with 189 members to APC’s 159. The remaining 12 lawmakers are members of other political parties.

 The APC alliance in the House, however, claimed that the adjournment was to allow lawmakers attend to political engagements.

 Tambuwal defection notice read in part: “Before I hit the gavel on the motion for adjournment, I want to make this formal announcement to this House.

“Based on the provision of the 1999 Constitution, and having regards to the development of PDP in my own state, Sokoto State, I hereby announce my membership with the All Progressives Congress, APC.

“Let me register my profound appreciation to all of you my colleagues for the unflinching support you have continued to extend to me for the overall national interest and development of our democracy. May almighty God continue to guide us all.“

 Reacting to the defection, the APC caucus headed by the House Minority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, welcomed the development.

Gbajabiamila, who expressed happiness at the decision of the Speaker at a press briefing, said Tambuwal’s defection did not come as a surprise.

 “We welcome and applaud the Speaker’s decision. Ever since the crisis started in PDP which led to the formation of the ‘New PDP’, and the defection of five PDP Governors, 37 PDP members of the House of Representatives to the APC, and the formal merger of the ‘New PDP’ with the APC, we had all along known that this day will come”. The APC caucus said.

“We are proud to acknowledge that the Speaker remains not only a member of the House of Representatives but also its Speaker. This position is consistent with the law and practice in a Presidential System of Government,” the House Minority Leader said.

The House Minority Whip, Samson Osagie, in his own reaction debunked the claim that the Speaker was trying to avoid being impeached, prompting him to adjourn plenary to December 3, 2014.

 He said it was to allow party members participate in the electioneering campaigns for their party primaries.

 Also reacting to the defection, the PDP House Caucus in separate statements by the House Leader and Deputy Leader, Mulikat Adeola-Akande and Leo Ogor, said the PDP will take a decision on  the Speaker’s defection at an appropriate time, adding that the party still remains in control of the house with its numerical strength.

 “This is a party affair. Members take decision on the floor based on party. So, the party will take decision at the appropriate time.” Adeola-Akande told newsmen after the defection.

 Ogor said that the PDP caucus will await the court’s decision in relation to political party defections before it makes further moves.

“We await the ruling of the court on the matter. And I think this is one great opportunity for us to call on the Judiciary. They are also an arm of government. That justice delay is justice denied. And if this subjected matter before them, it behooves on them to make the necessary interpretations so that we can lay this issue to rest in respect of defection. It is extremely important. But for us as members of the PDP, we believe that we will continue carrying on the responsibilities of our party.” Ogor stated.