Top leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South West geopolitical zone have made representation to President Goodluck Jonathan, asking him to return the position of Speaker of the House of Representatives to the zone in the aftermath of the defection of Speaker Aminu Tambuwal.

Tambuwal defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday, citing political development in his home state.

But the PDP has demanded his resignation, citing infraction to Section 68(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

Acting Inspector General of the Police, Suleiman Abba, also on Thursday withdrew police personnel attached to the Speaker following the defection.

Sources close to the administration, however, said, on Friday, that the President had already received representations from leaders of the PDP in the South West calling for a return of the Speakership post to the one.

The South West was originally allotted the position in 2011. Tambuwal campaigned against the grain of the party’s zoning formula, beating Hon. Mulikat Adeola Akande, who later emerged the Majority Leader.

It was gathered that the PDP leaders believed that the time had come for President Jonathan to put his feet down for the South West and ensure the return of the position of speaker to the zone.

“I can confirm to you that a number of positions have been received by the president since the defection of the speaker. Leaders of the zone that originally had the zoning arrangement in their favour have demanded the return of the position of speaker. Tambuwal originally denied the South West its slot, wheareas the North West where he comes was allocated the position of vice president, he joined hands with the opposition members to pick the slot. Now that he has defected, he cannot be seen to continue to occupy the position,” a source quoted one of the leaders.

The source said that the South West leaders believe that removing Tambuwal at this time would be a big boost to electoral chances of the PDP in the zone at this time.

Investigations by the Saturday Tribune, however, indicated that another school of thought in the party is of the view that a candidate either from North East or North West could be backed as a stop-gap arrangement while the substantive speaker from the South West could emerge after the 2015 elections.

•Credit: Saturday Tribune. Photo shows PDP National Leader, President Jonathan.

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