By Mohammed Lawal Maikudi
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has been declared winner of the 2023 general elections in Nigeria.
Its presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was declared winner, defeating three main contenders, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP); Mr. Peter Obi of the Labour Party, (LP); and Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, (NNPP).
The APC has also won majority seats in the National Assembly, (Senate and House of Representatives), as well as majority of the governorships and state assemblies’ seats.
While the parties that could not win majority seats in the general elections are nursing their wounds, seeking redress at the Elections Petition Tribunals in areas where they felt shortchanged, the APC is engulfed in internal crises threatening its cohesion and success.
The current situation regarding the leadership of the 10th NASS is a very serious issue that could militate against the goodwill the party enjoys from the Nigerian citizens.
Recall that there were reports that the national leadership of the APC in consultation with the President-elect has approved not only zoning, but micro-zoned the four principal offices of the National Assembly.
The position of the President of the Senate was not only zoned to the south-south geopolitical zone but but also nominated a personality – Senator Godswill Akpabio, who it picked as its choice.
This, by implication has shown that the powers of the senate to elect its leaders has been usurped, hence subjugated. The arrangement indicated that the deputy president of the senate was zoned to northwest geopolitical zone by the nomination of Senator Jibrin Barau, from Kano State.
At the House of Representatives, the slot was also given to the northwest zone nominating Honourable Tajjudeen Abass, from Kaduna State for the speakership, while the deputy speakership was zoned to southeast with the nomination of Honourable Kalu from Abia State
Although there were some attempts to make the NASS leadership inclusive of all zones, and balancing some religious equations, the APC leadership should have allowed members of the national assembly to elect its leaders with some guidance and lobbying only from critical stakeholders.
The zoning and micro-zoning is generating a lot of political heat with some members threatening to rebel against the arrangement.
One of the aspirants for the office of President of the senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, is one of the aggrieved person who has threatened to deal with the situation appropriately, saying performance should not be the only yardstick in occupying national positions.
Former Zamfara State governor, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, is also of the view that the arrangement is unacceptable to him, because it negates the principle of democracy.
Senator Yari said his zone is the most qualified to produce the President of the Senate because of its high performance in the presidential and national assembly elections.
Recall that out of the over eight million votes scored by the APC in the presidential election, about three million votes were returned by the northwest zone, therefore deserves a better deal.
On the level of the House of Representatives, aspirants to the office of the speaker are revolting against the micro-zoning. The most outspoken contenders include; Hon Alhassan Doguwa from Kano; Hon Batera from Borno; Hon. Sada Soli from Katsina; Hon. Jaji from Kaduna; and Hon. Tajjudeen Abass from Kaduna.
The Northcentral geopolitical zone which has the national chairman of the Party has not been considered in the arrangement, and it is complaining bitterly for being neglected despite its contribution to the success of the party, urging the party leadership to revisit the issue and do justice to the zone.
This issue, if not tackled with serious care cause the APC to have an executive antagonistic to the National Assembly and Nigerians will be the ultimate losers.
Its imperative for the party to address the situation and avoid beginning the government on a rancorous footing.
