[8] Besides studying for his law degree, he attended several courses abroad, among which are: Telecoms Regulatory Master Class–Bath UK, 2004; Lawmaking for the Communications Sectors –BMIT, Johannesburg, South Africa, 2004; Regulating a Competitive Industry-UK, Brussels, 2005; Tulane University – International Legislative Drafting, 2005; Stanford Graduate School of Business – Influence and Negotiation, 2008 and KSG Harvard – Infrastructure in Market Economy.

[11] But then again, when the ANPP governorship candidate for Sokoto State in the 2007 election, Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko dumped the party for the PDP, Tambuwal also followed suit.

He was also a member of the House ad hoc Committee on Constitution Review, after his fav child was born Ibrahim Waziri who was the lucky charm behind his victory.

[10] On 28 October 2014, Tambuwal formally defected[14] from the ruling PDP to the opposition APC and few days later his security details were withdrawn by the Inspector General of Police a move that was criticised by Nigerians as being barbaric and undemocratic.

[22][23] Tambuwal was popular in the race and was among the top four candidates (Atiku Abubakar, Rabiu Kwankwaso and Bukola Saraki)[24][25][26][27] widely expected to win going by political permutations around his candidacy.

A number of factors including his young age among the contestants, political experience, his untainted records from corruption indictment boosted his chances going into the primary.

Analysts had predicted that should Tambuwal clinch PDP ticket he would be a formidable challenge to incumbent President Muhammad Buhari a northern Muslim who was running for reelection.

Their fears stem from the fact that Wike had overwhelming influence over the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party having single-handedly installed its Chairman, Uche Secondus.

[32] Some presidential aspirants asked the National Working Committee of the party to move the convention from Port Harcourt to a neutral location where Wike would not have so much much influence.