ABUJA, Nigeria — Abdulaziz Yari, former Governor of Zamfara and member of the All Progressives Congress, APC, declared on Monday, May 15, 2023, that he remains undeterred in his pursuit of the Presidency of the 10th National Assembly.
He staunchly defended his decision, asserting that it was his constitutional right.
Mr. Yari, while speaking to journalists in Abuja, clarified that his decision was not a rebuff of his party’s leadership or its established norms.
The APC National Working Committee (NWC) had previously zoned the Senate Presidency to the South-South region and the Deputy Presidency to the North-West.
“Am I wrong when I asked them to choose me? There is nothing wrong with that. I’m exercising my constitutional responsibility,” Yari declared in his defense.
The former Governor of Zamfara, widely regarded as a prominent figure within the APC, argued that no single individual or entity possesses exclusive rights to decide the leadership of the National Assembly.
His comments come amidst the party’s endorsement of Senator Godswill Akpabio for the Senate Presidency and Senator Barau Jibrin for the Deputy Senate Presidency.
Yari emphasized his respect for the party’s zoning decision, yet continued to campaign for his colleagues’ support.
“I’m not kicking anything against my party or against anyone. But I’m saying that I’m trying to get the indulgence of my colleagues to trust me and hire me,” he said.
He further noted the power dynamics within the National Assembly, indicating the members’ ability to hire or fire its leaders.
“And at the same time, if I did wrong somewhere they fire me. So the hiring and firing is the exclusive responsibility of the national assembly,” Yari added.
Yari’s bold move not only underscores the intense jostling for the National Assembly’s top posts but also highlights the intraparty dynamics that often shape political trajectories in Nigeria.
It remains to be seen how the APC and its members will respond to Yari’s defiant stance.
As Nigeria prepares for the 10th National Assembly, Yari’s bid emphasizes the growing complexity and unpredictability of the country’s political landscape.
