The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, on Fridayfiled a suit before the Abuja Federal High Court over alleged attempt to declare his seat vacant and the withdrawal of his security aides.
Tambuwal’s counsel, Jubrin Okutepa (SAN), who filed the suit, which has yet to be assigned to a judge, joined the All Progressives Congress as co-plaintiff and the Peoples Democratic Party as defendant.
Also joined as co-defendants is the PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Muazu; the Acting Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba; and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha.
Other co-defendants are the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke (SAN).
The suit, a copy of which was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria, was filed in the court registry.
The Speaker wants the court to declare that PDP’s attempt to declare his seat vacant is unlawful and unconstitutional.
He further urged the court to declare that he remained a Representative and Speaker until the expiration of his tenure on June 5, 2015.
Tambuwal also prayed the court to declare that the I-G’s withdrawal of his security details when he had not been removed from office as speaker was illegal and unconstitutional.
He, therefore, prayed for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from taking any steps to interfere or infringe on his rights and privileges as Speaker.
He also prayed the court to grant an order of perpetual injunction restraining INEC from organising any bye-election or accepting nominations for the purpose of replacing him.
Tambuwal urged the court to also grant an order of mandatory injunction compelling Abba and Adoke to restore his security details and all his office rights, benefits and privileges.