National Assembly Leadership – Lawmakers Move Against Zoning

Leadership (Abuja)

Andrew Oota

21 May 2011

Abuja — Indications emerged last night that the members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and their colleagues in the opposition parties have resolved to go against the zoning formula of the PDP in order to protect democracy and the institution of the National

Assembly as a separate arm of government. leadership weekend gathered on good authority that to disregard the zoning arrangement of the party, members of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in both chambers of the National Assembly, serving North-East governors, stakeholders from the North-East as well as traditional institutions in collaboration with some PDP lawmakers are determined to ensure that candidates outside the zones favoured by the PDP over the leadership of the National Assembly contest the elections.

LEADERSHIP WEEKEND also learnt that the amendment of the Standing Rules of the Senate which now allow few ranking senators to vie for the position of the Senate president contributed to the anger of those moving against the zoning arrangement.

Consequent upon that, it was gathered that the outgoing governor of Gombe State and Senator-elect Danjuma Goje has been directed to run for the office of the senate president at the forthcoming National Assembly election of presiding officers slated for next month.

One of the PDP governors from the North-West told LEADERSHIP WEEKEND on condition of anonymity that “I am a loyal member of the PDP.

In fact we were the pioneer members of the party and I was at that meeting where we agreed initially as far back as 1999 that power should rotate.

Then in 2007, it was the turn of the North to have the presidency. Along the line, the president died and naturally his vice had to take over. But people then felt that zoning should be jettisoned because it was convenient for us as a nation to allow Jonathan to continue and I supported that and we did not amend the constitution of the PDP to allow for that.

“We then started double speaking as my brother, (former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida) rightly said, that we should zone National Assembly positions and again I felt with the person of David Mark to retain the senate presidency it was also convenient, but for the senate to start amending the rules to shut the door against other people amounts to denying them their rights and I don’t accept that kind of thing.

“I know that David Mark would still win, but then somebody should contest against him to send the message that we are a democratic country, not a military regime. We are talking to our colleagues in the South-West and North- East as well as the traditional institutions”.

On why he did not want to be quoted, the governor said, “I am going to address the press soon and at that point I would say more”.

With the development, Goje would be nominated by Senator George Akume from Benue State, citing constitutional provisions which are superior to the standing rules of the Senate. LEADERSHIP WEEKEND also gathered that 250 members out of the 360 member-House of Representative have endorsed the candidature of Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal for the position of Speaker against Hon. Muriana Ajibola ahead of the National Assembly elections slated for next month.

It was also gathered that both outgoing members and members who were elevated to the Senate have thrown their weight behind Tambuwal.

A member of the House from the North-East, who has won election into the Senate but would not want his name in print told LEADERSHIP WEKEND that, “myself and Tambuwal were both principal officers in the House where he always made very useful contributions both at our meetings and on the floor of the House on all issues.

“Although our party decided to zone the position to the South-West, some of us still believe that if credibility and competence is what we are looking for, then we should look in the direction of Tambuwal.

“I know as much as you do that our party is very vindictive and if they get to know that some of us are going against the zoning arrangements, they would not be happy and that is why I have told my returning friends and members-elect to simply look at the credentials and antecedents of all the candidates and not what the party says, because only Tambuwal stands out”.

Members of the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) in the House, the Labour Party, Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) have also thrown their weight behind Tambuwal.

A source close to the outgoing speaker of the House, Dimeji Bankole, told LEADERSHIP WEEKEND that ” I can assure you that from all indications, the Deputy Majority Whip of the House Aminu Tambuwal, stands a better chance of succeeding Bankole because of his experience and general acceptability such that even Muraina that was believed to have being endorsed by the party and former President Olusegun Obasanjo knows that he is contesting against somebody that has all that it takes to beat him.”

On whether the speaker is supporting Tambuwal, the source said, ” On this kind of issues, the speaker can speak for himself but I think he would have soft spots for Tambuwal because he is as competent as himself and ordinarily he would like to support somebody like him.

“You see, beyond the issue of zoning, which might not stand after all, the man the PDP has adopted is not competent and that is the truth.

I think Nigerians should move out of this endorsement based on personal interest “people should be endorsed on merit.”

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