Leadership of the All Progressives Congress, APC, are currently in a fix over the zoning of major political positions in the country.
Already, many analysts say the unfolding conflagration may undermine the cohesion which has become the hallmark of the party.
The decision to allocate positions to different geopolitical zones may be one of the party’s first litmus test. Most analysts have avowed that care must be taken as political stakeholders are waiting on the crossroad for the party’s first unbiased decision.
Many are of the views that an equitable and unbiased zoning will further boost Nigerians’ confidence on the APC led government.
Information have suggested infighting among party stalwarts from different geopolitical zones who are interested in having some juicy positions allocated to their zones.
As the zoning issue takes the central stage, political bigwigs from the North Central have already commenced rigorous campaign and lobbying for the Senate Presidency seat, arguing that politicians and people of the zone carried out what appeared like a very difficult task by unseating the PDP leadership in the state, and giving the APC a block vote in the presidential election.
The North Central has two formidable contenders in the persons of Senate minority leader, Senator George Akume and Senator representing Kwara Central Senatorial zone, Sen. Abubakar Bukola Saraki.
The two Senators believe that they have the clouts to lead the 8th Senate based on their experiences.
Senator Akume, in 2011 battled with the current Senate President, David Mark over the same position when it was zoned to the North Central.
David Mark however pulled through, considering his experience and popularity among his colleagues and his people.
It then means that Akume may appear like a wounded lion this time again that many are suggesting that the Senate presidency position be zoned to the North Central.
However, Saraki may have a comparative advantage over Akume, not only by his experience but by the fact that David Mark hailed from Benue State, the same state with Sen. Akume.
Political watchers have argued that since both individuals were formerly of the PDP and David Mark became Senate President while they were in the same party, it’s only reasonable that George Akume allows a politician from another state to benefit from the highly revered position.
The question however is whether Akume is ready to give up the position as sources have disclosed that the Senator has already initiated an early move to sway support for himself.
While backing the zoning of Senate Presidency to the North Central, a group in a communiqué signed by the zonal chairman of the party, Zakari Ede, and the six states chairmen in the region, said the senate president be zoned to their area, noting that in due course, the “Senate President will be chosen from one of our Distinguished Senators.”
The group argued that the North Central, being a susceptible zone, its success and victory should not be undermined, stating that it would only be fair for the Senate President position be zoned to the North Central.
The group argued thus: “We further observed the followings facts among others, that the block vote of the North Central, which is over 2.4m, is same as South West. The North Central delivered 13 Senators same as North East.
“The North Central also delivered 100 per cent state Governors as North West compared to the North East with only four Governors.
“It is our strong belief that these efforts and performances need to be rewarded since our role was pivotal to our party’s success at the national level.
“It was expected that the North West and North East would largely vote APC, however, it was crucial that the North Central should also deliver its votes for our party to succeed. It was on this, we believe, that contributed in no small measure to our party’s victory.
“It must be noted that since 1999, the North Central Zone even under the PDP has been taking third position and with our recent performance, we equally believe the Zone should have the same third position.’’
While the battle for the Senate Presidency and other positions continues within the APC fold, there are strong indications that the All Progressives Congress (APC) may have developed a new zoning arrangement for the party.
The new zoning structure is believed to have taken into consideration the performance, integrity, legislative experience and ranking for the various positions in the National Assembly.
Surprisingly, the new zoning formula did not go the thinking of many as it cedes the Senate Presidency to the North-east while the Speakership position goes to the South-west.
Relatively, while the Senate majority leader went to the North-west, the North Central is left with the deputy Senate president’s position.
While this news may have ignited some questions and anger in the North Central, particularly in Benue State where many had reportedly started celebration ahead of the probable emergence of Akume as the Senate President, other stakeholders who were reportedly privy to the new zoning formula from the North west and North east had expressed delight with the new arrangement.
Some members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) who know of the new arrangement but not mandated to speak said: “the new zoning formula is with our leaders. We only await directives to make it public.”
Some analysts have in the interim backed the current zoning arrangement, justifying that the North east deserves the Senate President’s position more than all other zones in the country.
They are of the opinion that based on the massive votes gathered for the APC from the zone despite its overwhelming security challenges; the zone can only be compensated with the Senate Presidency’s position which is the number three position in the country.
They have argued that since the Presidency position has now been zoned to the North West, and the Vice President to South west, it is only reasonable and most appropriate that the position is zoned to the North east that garnered the second-highest number of votes for the APC in the just concluded presidential election.
Political ‘heavy weights’ from the zone have equally argued that since the north east never really participated in governance, particularly in the 7th Senate due to the rising insurgency in the zone, it will be fair to compensate it with this highly contentious position.
The zone has argued that in 2011, zoning arrangement was not strictly followed as almost all the slots were given to other zones at the detriment of the north east.
Some have argued that the region was left with no principal office in both the Senate and House of Representatives. The North east has therefore vowed that a repeat of the 2011 arrangement cannot be allowed under the APC incoming leadership. This has further put to doubt the expectation of the north central that it will produce the next Senate President.
Also arguing in support of reserving the Senate presidency to the north east, senator representing Yobe East Senatorial District in the Upper Chamber, Ibrahim Abba Bukar said it would be a great injustice if the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) zones the Senate President position to the North-Central and the Speakership position of the House of Representatives to South-West in the next legislative arm.
Bukar had argued that North Central that had produced the said position four times should this time around leave it for the north east that has never produced even a single senate leadership since the democratic dispensation began.
Relatively, Senator Ali Ndume has showed his support for the application of zoning formula while choosing political office holders.
He had argued that the best thing is to zone the Senate position to the north east.
While speaking to journalists at the APC national secretariat in Abuja, Ndume gave his reason to be the level of backwardness the zone is currently experiencing due to the Boko Haram insurgents.
He argued that the people of the north east gave the party the second highest number of votes during the last general election, hence deserves a better position in the allocation of political offices.
“The North east deserves to be put in the power kitchen because of the precarious state of development in the area. You see, the north east has produced the second largest vote for APC during the last election and like I said, if you are looking for people that will be consistent for being in opposition all this while, Borno and Yobe in particular have been consistent in opposition, ” Ndume said.
Meanwhile, the ongoing struggle for the zoning of political offices in the APC has continued to generate more controversies as different lists are continually being circulated in the social media.
In a reaction to this development, the leadership of the All Progressives Congress has asked Nigerians to disregard any list that is not officially announced by the party as decisions on zoning can only be taken by party elders.
In a statement issued on behalf of the party by the Director General of the Buhari Campaign Organization, Gov. Chibuike Amaechi, he said; “there is only one meeting the party has held as it concerns zoning of offices and we have said the elders should go and zone the offices.
The elders are yet to return to the party so those things you people are doing are speculations.
“We don’t have a choice. If you want to serve in a government, then you have to abide by the rules. And the person that wants to run the government has said that anyone who wants to serve must publicly declare his asset,” Amaechi said.
The question therefore is whether the APC will pass this first litmus test without a crack or will give in to sentiment to the detriment of its overall national interest?
Will the party resort to legacy parties’ arrangement or hold on to the popular culture of geopolitical zoning? The answers will come in a few weeks from now. Nigerians are watching, the soon-to-be opposition, PDP, is watching.
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