9th National Assembly: APC, lawmakers may clash over leadership zoning

Sunday Aborisade, John Alechenu, Leke Baiyewu and Chidiebube Okeoma

The ruling All Progressives Congress may be facing a palpable dilemma over the zoning of leadership positions in the 9th National Assembly.

Findings by Saturday PUNCH showed that lawmakers from various geopolitical zones were making conflicting demands, claims and counter-claims.

Some of the lawmakers who spoke to our correspondents on Thursday argued that the North-East had produced more votes for the APC in the just-concluded general elections than the South-West and should be rewarded with certain positions which the South-West was also clamouring for.

The South-West is clamouring for the position of Speaker in the House of Representatives and that  of Deputy Senate President in the Senate.

Speaking with one of our correspondents, a member of the House of Representatives from Bauchi State, Mr Abdulrazak Namdas, said, “Our argument is that, when Senator David Mark became Senate President, he spent eight years, and he is from Benue State in the North-Central. And don’t forget that the zone has produced several Senate presidents. Before Mark, there was Ibrahim Mantu who was Deputy Senate President. And now, there is Bukola Saraki as Senate President (from Kwara State), also from the zone.

“What we are now saying is that, given the pattern that we have had and that Dogara has been able to stabilise us in the North-East, it is only fair that we allow that structure to continue for the next four years. The people will also have a sense of belonging, of having a speaker from the zone for eight years.”

Another APC chief from Taraba State in the North-East, Mr Garba Chede, supported the call for zoning of the top seats to the geopolitical zone.

“The reason why we want these positions zoned to the North-East is that though the incumbent Speaker became Speaker by accident, look at what (the votes) our zone is fetching. That is why we are saying now we want the speaker to come from that zone. This is our demand.”

The APC is said to be considering presenting Femi Gbajabiamila as the Speaker and Ahmed Lawan as the Senate President.