N’central, s’east APC reps oppose ‘new’ zoning

North-central and southeast All Progressives Congress (APC) caucuses of the federal house of representatives have rejected the party’s reported zoning of the principal positions of the lower chamber to the north-east and south-west.

John Oyegun, national chairman of the APC, had reportedly written a letter to Yakubu Dogara, speaker of house, endorsing Femi Gbajabiamila as house leader (south-west), Alhassan Doguwa deputy house leader (north-west), Mohammed Monguno chief whip‎ (north-east) and Pally Iriase deputy chip whip (south-south).

Speaking to journalists at separate news conferences at the national assembly complex in Abuja, the groups decried the party’s exclusion of their zones from the principal positions of the house.

They urged that the party to take into cognisance the federal character principle in the Nigerian constitution in zoning the principal offices.

Speaking for the north-central APC caucus in the house, Ahman Pategi from Kwara state said that the APC took the decision without consulting the caucus, adding that the group was shocked when the party stated that it reached the decision after due consultation.

“We are also amazed by the directive of the party to the leadership of the house to take necessary action on the purported choice made ‎by the party, which we see as a clear usurpation of the powers of the zonal caucuses and their members as guaranteed by the constitution and the standing rules of the house of representatives,” he said.

“We therefore strongly reject the purported selection by the party, which we see as being in conflict with the principle of the federal character as enshrined in the constitution of the federal republic.”

Pategi added that the north-central caucus “believes that there should be fairness and equity in the selection of other principal positions of the house of representatives following the emergence of both the speaker and deputy speaker”.

In a similar vein, Austin Chukwukere from Imo state, on behalf of the southeast caucus of the APC in the house, said the group could “not stand and allow the party sweep us out”.

“In the spirit of federal character, the party has not done the right thing,” he said.

Chukwukere stated that if the southeast was not involved in the appointment of principal officers, it would lack the morale and courage to serve the party.

He called on the APC to find a solution and involve other geopolitical zones in the appointment of principal officers of the house.

The APC caucus in the senate is also divided over the appointment of principal officers of the senate.

While some APC senators aligned to Bukola Saraki are ‎opposed to the appointment of the party’s candidates as principal officers – Ahmed Lawan, senate leader; George Akume, deputy senate leader; Olusola Adeyeye, chief whip, and Abu Ibrahim, deputy chief whip – others APC senators are insisting that the party’s position must be respected.