Zone Speakership to North Central, APC Reps tells APC

As the scramble for leadership positions gathers momentum in the National Assembly, the north central caucus of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the House of Representatives has requested the leadership of the party to zone the position of speakers to the geopolitical zone.

At a news conference yesterday in Abuja, leader of the caucus, Hon. John Dyegh (APC, Benue) said it is imperative for the speaker of the House in the 9th Assembly to come from the north central in the interest of equity and fair play.

Dyegh, who is returning for the third time said the lawmakers appreciate the supremacy of the APC leadership in determining the zoning of offices in the 9th Assembly.

North central is made up of Benue, Plateau, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger states and the FCT.

He noted that ceding the speakership position to the north central will advance equity in distribution of positions in the country, especially as the North West and South West has already produced the president and vice president respectively.

According to him, it is not a coincidence that the 1999 Constitution ( as amended) provides for federal character in the distribution of offices and leadership in the country.

“We note that apart from the North West and the North East, the North Central zone delivered handsomely for the party in the general elections, and as such needs to be rewarded for the hard work and loyalty.

“The need to ensure balance and spread between and among the six geopolitical zones has made it imperative to give prime consideration to the North Central zone to produce the position of speaker.

Being the zone with delicate and peculiar location and challenges within the federation, it is of utmost importance to carry us along in the hierarchy of power distribution in the country, as this will in no small measure, help in stabilizing the polity,” the lawmaker stated.

He added that they are mindful that the circumstances that surrounded the emergence of leaders of the House in previous assemblies can provide a guide for the APC leadership to avoid the pitfalls of the past.

New Telegraph had earlier reported that Hon. Mohammed Umar Bago (APC, Niger), the deputy leader and Hon. Abdullahi Idris Wase (APC, Plateau) are the two candidates who have indicated interest in the position from the north central so far.

Meanwhile, other lawmakers in the race for the speakership include immediate past minister of state for foreign affairs, Hon. Khadijat Bukar Abba Ibrahim (APC, Yobe), House leader, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila (APC, Lagos), House spokesman, Hon. Abdulrazaq Namdas, Hon. Segun Odebunmi (APC, Oyo), Hon. Babangida Ibrahim, (APC, Katsina), Hon. Aminu Suleiman (APC, Kano) and Hon. Nkeiruka Onyeojocha (APC, Abia).

Others in the race for speaker are Hon. Garba Datti Mohammed (APC, Kaduna), and Hon. Mohammed Monguno (APC, Borno); while former aide to president Buhari, Hon. Abdulrahman Suleiman Kawu (APC, Kano)