10th Assembly leadership: APC NWC unsatisfied with Tinubu zoning formula
…Seeks consultation choice of Akpabio, others
….South East Senators kick
By Joel Oladele, Abuja
The unrest rocking the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) over the allocation of the 10th assembly leadership position is not over yet as the National Working Committee of the party seems not to be in total agreement with the zoning formula of the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
This was revealed in a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Barr. Felix Morka on Monday after the meeting of the NWC members in Abuja.
Recall that the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu had met with some party bigwigs over the weekend over the zoning formula of the 10th Assembly leadership position where it was allegedly agreed that the former Governor of Akwa-Ibom, Senator Godswill Akpabio(South-South) has been endorsed as the Senate president while Senator Barau Jubrin from Kano(North-West) is being tipped for Deputy Senate President.
Also, for the House of Representatives, while Hon. Abass Tajudeen from Kaduna state (North-West) is being considered for Speaker, the Deputy Speaker will be given to Hon. Ben Kalu from Abia State (South-East).
Just when Nigerians thought the outcome of the meeting with the President-elect over the weekend would put an end to the speculations and suspense, the statement by the NWC of the party on Monday stated otherwise as it points to the fact that it is not over yet.
In the statement signed by Barr. Morka, the NWC acknowledged the outcome of the meetings with the President-elect. However, the NWC emphasised the need for further and more extensive consultations with relevant stakeholders to ensure the support of the aspirants for the National Assembly leadership positions as well as party members nationwide.
The statement read in part: “The National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) met today, Monday, May 8, 2023 to consider reports of consultations and meetings held with the President-Elect, His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, other Party leaders and stakeholders on zoning arrangement for 10th National Assembly leadership positions.
“The NWC noted with respect the outcome of the meetings held between the President-Elect and the leadership of the NWC. The NWC called for further and better consultation with necessary stakeholders in order to assure the support of the aspirants to the National Assembly leadership positions and members of the Party nationwide.”
Morka therefore urged party leaders, members, and all Nigerians to continue working towards the peace and progress of the country both during and after the ongoing leadership transition period.
The zoning arrangement reported to the NWC is as follows: SENATE: Senate President – South-South Senator Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom); Deputy Senate President – North West-Senator Barau Jubrin (Kano).
“HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: Speaker. House of Representatives North West-Hon. Abass Tajudeen (Kaduna) and Deputy Speaker South East-Hon. Ben Kalu (Abia).
Nigerian NewsDirect gathered that dissatisfaction from the decision may further heighten in-house politicking among lawmakers-elect in both chambers, a development that has been speculated would further broaden exploiting grounds of interest blocs by those dissatisfied by the party’s decision.
The party has, however, officially remained silent on the rationale behind its decision and choice of leaving the North-Central out of the two principal offices in both chambers.
Recall NewsDirect had reported how that the complexities of the politicking over the composition of the 10th National Assembly have generated heated controversies.
A stakeholders’ meeting held, weekend, with the President-elect had generated controversies leading to speculations.
Nigerian NewsDirect had reported how the perceived choice of the President-elect and the party leadership for Akpabio had generated resistance.
A bloc, the South East Senate caucus had earlier called on the Senator Abdullahi Adamu-led NWC of the APC and the President-elect, to allow the South East geo-political zone get the slot of the Senate President.
According to the Caucus, the party should uphold the Principle of Natural Justice and Equity that it preaches, founded on reason to ensure that the South East zone is given the position of Senate President.
The Senators who noted that with the sidelining of the Southeast from producing the Presidential candidates of the major political parties before the general elections, said that the only way the zone could be compensated and given a sense of belonging is for the zone to produce the next Senate President, adding that this would restore confidence of the people from the South-East and South-South geo-political zones and indeed all Nigerians in the unity of the country.
In a Communique at the end of its meeting in Abuja, the Senate Caucus urged the President-elect to extend the same democratic opportunity he received from the outgoing administration that gave all aspirants equal opportunity to exercise their fundamental and constitutional rights during the APC Presidential Primaries.
The Communique was signed by Senators- elect from the South East for the 10th Senate, including Senator Orji Uzor Kalu; Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe; Senator Ifeanyi Ubah; Senator Victor Umeh; Senator Osita Izunaso; Senator Ezenwa Oyewuchi; Senator Tony Nwoye and Senator PC Ndubueze.
Others are Senator Okey Ezea; Senator Kelvin Chukwu and Senator Osita Ngwu.
The race for the principal offices of the incoming 10th National Assembly had attracted more dicey faces as more interest beyond zoning seems to have generated blocs tending towards sidelining the supremacy of party consensus.
