APC Meeting On Zoning Formula Deadlocked
A meeting of senior chieftains of the All Progressives
Congress (APC) today has again failed to release an approved zoning
formula containing modalities for distribution of principal political
offices across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria.
Thisday gathered that during the party leadership meeting which ended not too long ago, the leaders could not completely agree on the zoning of positions for the regions.
The meeting which was held at the Rivers state Governors’ Lodge at Asokoro, confirms that the rumours on the adopted zoning formula which have been going round in media circles is not the true reflection of the situation within the party. Reports earlier, suggests the party had ceded the position of Senate President to North Central, Deputy Senate President to the North East, Speaker of the House of Representatives to the South West and Deputy Speaker to South-South.
Another report also had it that the party is under pressure to alter the zoning formula to accommodate other interests.
Following the stalemate, APC leaders have put on hold further deliberations on the zoning formula to allow for wider consultations.
The contentious positions were the key principal National Assembly seats of Senate President and House of Representatives Speaker.
A source hinted that during the discussion on the office sharing, some of the leaders tried to trivialize the issue by weeping up ethnic sentiments.
“You see, some people are bringing up ethnic sentiment in the discussion about the zoning which is not proper. But we have no doubt that the matter will be resolved amicably in the end,” he said.
When contacted over the outcome of the meeting, the National Publicity Secretary of APC, Alhaji Lai Muhammed declined to give details of decisions reached.
In a similar vein, the bickerings over the zoning arrangement in the APC has pitched party chieftains against each other as former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reportedly hijacked most of the positions.
Thisday gathered that during the party leadership meeting which ended not too long ago, the leaders could not completely agree on the zoning of positions for the regions.
The meeting which was held at the Rivers state Governors’ Lodge at Asokoro, confirms that the rumours on the adopted zoning formula which have been going round in media circles is not the true reflection of the situation within the party. Reports earlier, suggests the party had ceded the position of Senate President to North Central, Deputy Senate President to the North East, Speaker of the House of Representatives to the South West and Deputy Speaker to South-South.
Another report also had it that the party is under pressure to alter the zoning formula to accommodate other interests.
Following the stalemate, APC leaders have put on hold further deliberations on the zoning formula to allow for wider consultations.
The contentious positions were the key principal National Assembly seats of Senate President and House of Representatives Speaker.
A source hinted that during the discussion on the office sharing, some of the leaders tried to trivialize the issue by weeping up ethnic sentiments.
“You see, some people are bringing up ethnic sentiment in the discussion about the zoning which is not proper. But we have no doubt that the matter will be resolved amicably in the end,” he said.
When contacted over the outcome of the meeting, the National Publicity Secretary of APC, Alhaji Lai Muhammed declined to give details of decisions reached.
In a similar vein, the bickerings over the zoning arrangement in the APC has pitched party chieftains against each other as former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reportedly hijacked most of the positions.
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