Recent findings suggest that the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and President-elect, Bola Tinubu, are considering revising the zoning arrangements for the 10th National Assembly leadership.
This development emerged after Tinubu held meetings with several contenders following his return from France. Notable attendees included Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Idris Wase, Senator Godswill Akpabio, and Senator Sani Musa, among others, each meeting Tinubu separately.
Sources familiar with the matter informed This Day that Wase, who is vying for the position of Speaker of the House of Representatives, was the first to confer with Tinubu but left abruptly after their discussion.
Insiders claim that the strained relationship between Tinubu and Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, stemming from Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso’s visit to Paris, may have unveiled hidden motives behind the advice provided by certain northern governors to the President-elect.
The source described this advice, particularly regarding the positions of the National Assembly leadership, as questionable. “selfish and not the true reflection of the views of the majority.”
At present, the North-West region holds two presiding officers’ positions, while the South-South and South-East regions each have one, leaving the North Central geopolitical zone completely unrepresented.
This situation has reportedly caused confusion within the party. However, there are plans to reassess the allocation of positions following revelations from a meeting between Tinubu and Kwankwaso in France, as confirmed by another source.
Tension escalated when an audio leak of a phone conversation involving Ganduje and Ibrahim Masari, the former vice presidential candidate of the APC, surfaced. In light of this leak, Tinubu allegedly decided to base the zoning arrangements on the electoral performance of each geopolitical zone in the last election.
Ganduje’s comments in the leaked conversation, expressing his dissatisfaction with not being present at the meeting between Tinubu and Kwankwaso, did not sit well with Tinubu.
According to another source, Tinubu emphasized that the North Central region should not be overlooked in the zoning arrangements.
He was quoted saying, “The decision to zone the offices will be looked into so as to bring a balance. The speakership will likely be in the North West as it is a substantive no 4 office higher than the Deputy Senate President in the hierarchy.”
According to sources, Tinubu is reportedly considering offering a presiding officer position to the North Central region as a gesture of appreciation for the votes he received during the presidential election.
