Senators-elect from the North-Central geopolitical zone have rejected the zoning scheme recommended by the APC leadership for key positions in the 10th National Assembly.
The APC endorsed Senator Godswill Akpabio of the South-South for Senate President and Senator Barau Jibrin of the North-West for Deputy Senate President in their zoning formula revealed on Monday.
Abbass Tajudeen of the North-West was chosen as Speaker of the House of Representatives, while Benjamin Kalu of the South-East was chosen as Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.
The North-Central caucus Senators-elect, however, rejected the arrangement in a letter on Wednesday, calling it an obvious denial of their rights and privileges.
The letter, headed ‘Resolution of the North Central Caucus of the Tenth Senate on NASS Leadership Zoning,’ was signed by 18 Senators-elect representing various political parties.
The letter read, “We the North Central Senators-elect Caucus met on Monday the 8th May 2023 and resolved as follows:
“That the North Central as a geopolitical zone in Nigeria has paid its dues in the political stability of the country and shall continue to do so, but where we see open denial of our rights and privileges, we will have no option than to voice out in the interest of the zone and its people we represent.
“It is pertinent to know that we are fully committed to supporting the incoming administration of the President-Elect Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a better Nigeria. And this can only happen if Faimess, Equity and Justice are ensured. And it is on record that the North Central gave the APC 41% of her votes to victory, hence we equally deserve as others.
“Our caucus reviewed the proposed zoning structure released, and we are not pleased and comfortable with the allocation of the Positions of the Deputy Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the 10th National Assembly to a particular geopolitical zone of the country (Northwest), we hereby reject it.
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“The convention has always been that the six (6) geopolitical zones of the country will have one each of the six (6) positions. Now that the South West and North-East have produced the President-elect and Vice President-elect respectively, it is only fair and natural that the Positions of the Senate President, Deputy Senate President, Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives should be shared amongst the other four (4) geopolitical zones i, e the North Central, South South, South East and North West.
“Sequel to the above, we as a caucus is calling on the All Progressives Congress (APC) to immediately retract its earlier decision which schemes us out of the power-sharing formula of the Country and cede the position of the Deputy Senate President to the North Central Zone so as to ensure faimess, equity and justice for a smooth 10th Senate.”
