APC group says zoning speaker, deputy senate president to north-west unfair

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Integrity Group says it is unfair that the leadership of the party has zoned the speaker and deputy senate president positions to the north-west, while the north-central does not have anything.

The ruling party had nominated Godswill Akpabio, a former minister of Niger Delta affairs, and Jibrin Barau, senator representing Kano north, as president of the senate and deputy in the 10th national assembly.

The APC chose Tajudeen Abbas, lawmaker from Kaduna, and Benjamin Kalu, a member from Imo, as speaker and deputy for the house of representatives respectively.

In a statement on Friday, Dawu Mohammed and Chisom Nwakanma, the group’s national coordinator and secretary, said the zoning arrangement did not have inclusivity.

“No amount of argument can justify a zoning script that does not answer the very question of inclusivity, mutual respect and oneness for a nation with growing fault lines,” they said.

“APC should have a rethink and save the APC from a possible implosion. We can have the offices zoned to give the various parts of the country a better sense of belonging to the country, other than what we have now.

“Such contributions cannot be written without recalling the role of many as competent and loyal party men across the north central zone that were omitted in the zoning agreement.

“The north central has performed so well in retaining the governing party, and the versatility lawmakers the zone can boast of should earn them the position of deputy senate president.”