Nigerians have declared that the Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Suleiman Abba, is wrong in his decision not to recognise the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, as the Speaker of the House, despite a subsisting court order.

This is the outcome of a poll on Punch Online, where respondents were asked to respond to a question: Is the IG in order for refusing to recognise Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal as the Speaker, House of Representatives, despite a subsisting court ruling that the status quo should be maintained in the House?

The poll, which started on November 27, ended on December 11, 2014.

During his appearance before a House Committee in Abuja three weeks ago, after security operatives invaded the National Assembly and tear-gassed most of the lawmakers, Abba referred to the Speaker as one Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal.

When the lawmakers called the IG’s attention to his refusal to recognise Tambuwal as the Speaker, the police chief argued that the case on the status of the Speaker was before the court, and making comments on it would be prejudicial.

The lawmakers had to dismiss the IG before the committee for his controversial comment as the House of Reps members accused Abba of arrogating to himself the power of the judiciary.

One thousand two hundred and thirty nine persons participated in the online poll, where respondents were asked to choose between ‘Yes’ and ‘No’.

Nine hundred and seventy six respondents, representing 79 per cent of the participants, said Abba was wrong to have refused to recognise Tambuwal as the Speaker, in view of the pronouncement of the court.

Conversely, 263 respondents, representing 21 per cent of the participants, supported the IG in his decision not to recognise Tambuwal as the House of Representatives Speaker despite the ruling of the court.