Here are indications that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is inching closer to a consensus on the zoning of principal offices in the 10th National Assembly, especially the Senate presidency and Speakership of the House of Representatives.

It was gathered that the leadership of the party, aspirants for the offices and other stakeholders are closing ranks and agreeing on some modalities for zoning to pave way for a rancour-free election of the principal officers.

Senators-elect from the North Central yesterday endorsed Senator Sani Musa from Niger State for the position of Deputy Senate President while the party’s National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, summoned a meeting of the APC National Working Committee for Wednesday with far-reaching decisions expected to be taken ahead of the NEC meeting and the May 29 inauguration of the President-elect.

Party members and other stakeholders continue to wait on the NWC and other organs of the party to show them direction on the zoning of the offices to frustrate alleged plan by opposition parties in the National Assembly to hijack the process for the election particularly of the next Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Although National Chairman Adamu had announced that the leadership positions would be zoned, some of the aspirants and party chieftains want the positions thrown open for all interested aspirants.

Some other aspirants and party chieftains have been canvassing the zoning of the leadership positions to their geo-graphical zones, stressing the need for equity and justice among the six geo-political zones of the country.

Yet another group believes that zoning should be based on the contributions of the zones to the victory of the party in the last elections.

Following the diverse opinions, some party members have been pressuring the President-elect to wade in and save the party from a repeat of the 2015 which saw APC legislators reject the decision of the party.

Indeed, some of the aspirants have met with Tinubu.

Party sources confirmed to our reporter that the APC is much closer to announcing a consensus zoning arrangement following series of consultations.

”There is nothing to fear again. The party stakeholders and the aspirants as well as their supporters have been talking and I can tell you a lot of progress has been made as we speak,” one source said yesterday.

He added: “For one, we are going to zone the offices. Furthermore, it will be a consensus arrangement all the way.”

Tinubu and Vice President-elect Kashim Shettima had met on Tuesday with Adamu, Senate President Ahmad Lawan, Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege, House of Representatives Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, and other party leaders in Abuja. The issue of zoning NASS positions was said to have been discussed.

The President-elect had earlier met with some of the aspirants for the positions of Senate President and Speaker. Adamu and the NWC of the APC were said to have also been meeting and discussing the consensus option.

Reliable sources said that the meetings had yielded positive results that have now positioned the APC to resolve the issue and announce its positions soon.

“As it is, what is left is for the necessary party organs to meet and ratify the agreements reached by the various stakeholders,” another source said.

“That way, the agreements will become the party’s decisions which can now be made public as soon as possible. Most of the aspirants too are coming to terms with the unfolding zoning arrangement and now readjusting their aspirations.

“Each zone will have a position or two zoned to it, and these aspirants will still have a feel of the leadership of the National Assembly in one position or the other if they abide by the decision of the party as regard the zoning.

“We are still working hard to fine-tune the arrangement and reach for consensus.”

North Central Senators-elect endorse Sani Musa for Deputy Senate President

Senators-Elect from the North Central yesterday endorsed Alhaji Sani Musa for the position of Deputy Senate President in the 10th National Assembly.

The Senator-Elect for Nasarawa West Senatorial District, Aliyu Wadada (SDP), who convened the meeting where the decision was taken, said lawmakers from the zone would not settle for any position less than the Deputy Senate President.

Wadada said the caucus was in agreement with their counterparts in the House of Representatives on the matter.

The caucus urged the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC and the President-Elect to respect the aspiration and wishes of the North Central on the position of Deputy Senate President.

Wadada said: “We convened this meeting to welcome Mr. President-Elect from his foreign trip.

“We also appreciate his disposition to ensure that fairness and equity take place in the distribution of leadership positions to all the geopolitical zones.

“We are aware that there are agitations from the various geopolitical zones on the positions of Senate President, deputy Senate President, Speaker and Deputy Speaker.

“We are aware of these agitations. The South West and the North East having produced the president and the vice president respectively, the North Central as a result of the stand and position that the least position we will go for is that of the Deputy Senate President.

“This is not just coming today. The North Central Caucus has been consistent from the commencement of the politics that will lead to the emergency of the leadership of the National Assembly.

“We are for the Deputy Senate President position. We shall work in harmony and mutually with other geopolitical zones in Nigeria.”

Responding to a question on whether the North Central Caucus of the House of Representatives members-elect were in agreement with the endorsement of Musa, Wadada said: “There has been synergy from home.”

He added: “There is already synergy from home because we all belong to the North Central. However, it does not stop the House of Representatives Caucus to demand for what they wanted.

“At the end of the day, we will get to an equilibrium. For now we are for the Deputy Senate President and we are endorsing Senator Sani Musa, who is the Chairman of our Caucus.”

APC NWC holds crucial meeting on Wednesday

The Wednesday meeting of the APC NWC is coming on the heels of the suit filed against Adamu and the party’s National Secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore, by the National Vice Chairman (North West) Dr. Salihu Moh. Lukman, for alleged breach of the party’s constitution.

Notice of the meeting to all the 24-member NWC sighted by our correspondent was issued by the National Secretary.

The notice reads: “Distinguished NWC members, HE, the national chairman has called the regular NWC meeting for Wednesday, 3rd May 2023. This notice is given early enough to allow our esteemed members to attend. Thanks for your attention. Good afternoon everyone.

“Time of the meeting 12: noon prompt.”

The agenda of the meeting was not specified in the notice of the meeting.

But an impeccable party source said: “The agenda of the meeting will be forwarded to all the NWC members before Monday.”

When asked to give an insight into issues to be discussed, the source simply said: “The issues slated for discussion will include the review of the just concluded general elections, the preliminary reports of an external auditor engaged to look into the books of the party, in the preparation of the financial report to be presented to National Executive Committee (NEC) whenever is conveyed.

“Wednesday’s meeting will also afford the NWC to mend the rough edges among themselves, especially as it regards the two letters by Mal. Salihu Lukman and the legal action he instituted against the National Chairman and National Secretary.

“It is going to be a loaded meeting where far-reaching decisions will be taken ahead of the NEC meeting and the May 29 inauguration of President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima.”

Forum of APC Chairmen canvasses for zoning of leadership positions

The Conference of All Progressives Congress (APC) Local Government Party Chairmen of Nigeria (ALGPCON) yesterday called for the zoning of the Senate Presidency to the South- East.

The forum said zoning would ensure fairness, justice, equity and national cohesion.

The forum said it took the decision after wide consultation with critical stakeholders of the party.

National Chairman of the group, Matthew Msughter Hon, said their proposal was for the South East to produce Senate President; North-Central, Deputy Senate President; North-West Speaker of the House of Representatives; and South South, Deputy Speaker.

ALGPCON also pleaded that the position of the Senate President should go to Senator Osita Izunaso of Imo West Senatorial District. (The Nation)

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