The All Progressives Congress (APC) has officially zoned the leadership positions in the incoming 10th National Assembly.
In a statement released on Monday, May 8 by its national publicity secretary, Felix Morka, the ruling party zoned the position of Senate President to the south-south and named Senator Godswill Akpabio, its preferred candidate.
The Deputy Senate President position was zoned to the northwest with Senator Barau Jibrin getting the nod from the party.
In the House of Representatives, the northwest, again, got the nod for the Speakership position, with Hon Tajudeen Abbass from Kaduna state getting the party’s endorsement.
Hon Benjamin Kalu from Abia state got the southeast slot for Deputy Speaker.
News.ng gathered that the party did not consider the north-central region because the zone would produce the next Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
The zone was also not considered because the party’s national chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, is from the region.
A member of the party from the zone, who didn’t want to be quoted publicly, said:
”There is no cause for alarm. We have been told that our zone will produce the next SGF, and we currently have the national chairman.
”We know the party’s decision might cause some sort of uproar, but we will educate our members and let them know there are other things to come.”
Another party member, however, expressed concerns that the decision might not sit well with members from the zone.
He said:
”I am really concerned. This might trigger another round of crisis in the party because disenfranchising a whole region will surely sit well with many party members.
”I hope there is a concrete way to address this issue because I fear this might throw us into another round of back and forth, and don’t forget the opposition are waiting in the wings to pounce.”
Morka, had, in the statement, said:
”We urge our party leaders, members, and all Nigerians to continue to work for peace and progress of our country during and beyond the current period of leadership transition.”
