How We Executed The ‘Coup’ That Made Aminu Tambuwal House Speaker In 2011—David Mark

How We Executed The ‘Coup’ That Made Aminu Tambuwal House Speaker

 

OpenLife Nigeria reports that after almost a decade and half, Former Senate President, Senator David Mark, now national chairman of African Democratic Congress, ADC, has revealed the role he played in the coup that enabled Aminu Waziri Tambuwal become House of Representatives Speaker in 2011 against the wish of the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, his then political party.

After the 2011 general election, PDP won the presidential seat and had majority members in both Senate and House of Representatives.

Close to the PDP in numerical strength and popularity was Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN that had leaders like Bola Ahmed Tinubu and many others, thereby forming the country’s main opposition.

To whittle down the influence of then ruling PDP, Tinubu and others decided to throw their weights behind Honourable Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, probably to represent the opposition interest and chat a way forward for future political alignment. However, the Tinubu led plan contrasted with PDP’s plans.

Preparatory for the House leadership election, PDP leadership had endorsed candidate, Mulikat Akande-Adeola, an Ogbomoso North/South/Orire federal constituency representation from Oyo State.

The opposition ACN group upturned the PDP’s arrangement and Aminu Tambuwal became Speaker of the 7th National Assembly in 2011 by defying his party, securing 252 votes while Mulikat Akande-Adeola received 90 votes in an open-secret ballot election.

Aminu Tambuwal’s victory highlighted a significant rebellion against the party’s zoning arrangement, showing his popularity and ability to build cross-party alliances.

Speaking on Saturday in Abuja on the 60th birthday celebrations of Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Senator David Mark revealed how Tambuwal’s speakership was made possible.

Mark narrated that when the idea to elect Speaker of the House of Representatives in 2011, I was already the Senate President.

At that time, Mark explained, Aminu Tambuwal and Emeka Ihedioha “kept coming to me about their intentions to be Speaker and Deputy respectively,” to see his blessings.

Mark further revealed that though he was already aware of all the plans to outsmart PDP in the Speakership battle, the duo came to him the night preceding the election for final briefing about how the ‘coup’ would be executed.

With that tack knowledge, Mark said that in another meeting same night, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan who was then the President of Nigeria requested to know where Tambuwal was “Where is Aminu Tambuwal?”

Jonathan asked, obviously sensing the overwhelming supports from opposition CAN that could upturn PDP’s plans the next day.

According to Mark, Haliru Mohammed Bello, then Acting National Chairman of PDP was also in the meeting.

He “turned to me,” implying that I should provide answer to the question asked by President Jonathan.
Bello was with the impression that I am in position to know where Tambuwal was because they were related with me.

At that point, Mark said he declined to reveal where Tambuwal and Ihedioha were even though they had told him where they were and he was acquainted with all the plans.

David Mark noted that he subordinated his loyalty to the PDP to the independence of the National Assembly.

He said, “They came to me and said, ‘Sir, whether you like it or not, you are adopting us as your sons.”

“They told me clearly that whether the President and the party wanted them or not, they would emerge Speaker and Deputy Speaker, and that I would sponsor them.”

“For once, Mr President, I disobeyed you.”

However, that non disclosure was the final factor that sealed Mulikat Akande-Adeola’s fate for the Speakership seat and paved the way for Tambuwal’s emergence, David Mark disclosed for the first time.

Born January 10, 1966, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal is a prominent Nigerian lawyer and politician who became the 10th Speaker of the House of Representatives between 2011 and 2015 and Governor of Sokoto State between 2015 and 2023.

Tambuwal who  is a Senator for Sokoto South District since 2023 studied Law at Usman Dan Fodio University and was called to the Bar in 1992.

He holds advanced certifications in legislative drafting and negotiation from institutions like Tulane and Harvard.

Tambuwal began as a legislative aide and active member of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA before representing Tambuwal/Kebbe Federal Constituency from 2003 to 2015.