ABUJA, Nigeria – In a wave of mounting discord, Northern senators, predominantly those elected on the All Progressives Congress (APC) platform, have issued a stark warning of potential revolt against the party, unless the contentious zoning template for the leadership of the 10th National Assembly is revisited.
Former Governor of Zamfara State and Senator-elect, Abdulaziz Yari, speaking on behalf of Northern Senators, asserted that the entire North could rise against the current arrangements.
His remarks were made during a visit of Senate presidency aspirants to the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC in Abuja.
The party had previously designated Senators Godswil Akpabio and Jibrin Barau for key leadership roles, and allocated the Speakership and Deputy Speakership to the North-West and South-East, with Tajudeen Abass and Ben Kalu selected for these positions respectively. APC leaders insist that these selections reflect the preference of the President-Elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
However, the 18 senators-elect from the North-Central geo-political zone have openly criticized the zoning template, expressing their dissatisfaction over the exclusion of their zone from the leadership arrangement. Additionally, seven speakership aspirants from the North-West, North-East, North-Central, and South-East have voiced opposition to the zoning formula and are seeking redress.
In response to the escalating tensions, the NWC of the APC, led by Senator Abdullahi Adamu, convened an emergency meeting with the disgruntled Senate presidency contenders. The meeting featured Senators Orji Kalu, Sani Musa, and Senator-elect Yari. Senator Osita Izunaso was absent due to obligations in his home state, Imo. Adamu called for restraint among the contestants, assuring them that the party would await the return of the President-elect for further consultations.
Yari, speaking first among the contenders, warned of a possible Northern revolt if the current zoning formula was not revised. He argued for fair play and reminded the NWC of the APC’s electoral victory in the North in 2023. He urged the NWC to reject President-elect Tinubu’s zoning template, advocating for a fairer distribution of power that would avoid potential upheaval from the North.
Senator Kalu also expressed his dissatisfaction, arguing that the South-East deserved “something very reasonable” in the power sharing formula. Senator Musa, echoing similar sentiments, called for a change and rectification of what he termed an ‘injustice’.
In response, Adamu acknowledged the controversy surrounding the zoning formula and promised to revisit the issue after consulting with the President-elect. He urged the aggrieved senators to hold their fire until further discussions could be held.
Meanwhile, the APC Equity and Justice Forum in the North-Central reiterated its rejection of the zoning formula, warning of a potential scenario similar to the 2015 revolt against the party’s chosen candidates.
Governor of Ebonyi State and Senator-elect, David Umahi, echoed the sentiment that the NWC should revisit the zoning template. He emphasized the importance of inclusivity in the country’s governance. Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, also acknowledged the party’s internal mechanisms for resolving such disputes and expressed confidence in their ability to resolve the zoning issue.
The APC is now faced with a significant challenge of quelling rising tensions within its ranks and ensuring a fair and equitable power distribution that satisfies its diverse membership.
