10th NASS: Group Wants Yari, Betara, Others To Respect APC’s Zoning Arrangement

A group under the aegis of National Assembly Legislative Aides from North West, has called on Senators-elect and members – elect for the 10th National Assembly, who have indicated interest and are campaigning for leadership positions in the 10th Assembly to retrace their steps as and align with the decisions of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The group made the call in Abuja recently at a special press conference within the premises of the National Assembly.
The NWC of APC had in its zoning arrangements for the leadership of 10th National Assembly , picked Senator Godswill Akpabio from South – South , as preferred candidate for Presidency of the Senate and Senator Jibrin Barau from North West for Deputy President of the Senate .
The party in a statement signed tby its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka had also , picked Hon Tajudeen Abbas from North West for the Speakership position of the House of Representatives and Hon Benjamin Kalu from South East for position of Deputy Speakership .
However the zoning arrangement did not go down well with some of the lawmakers elect and this led to various factions with various lawmakers indicating their interest against the Party’s NWC’s resolutions.
To this effect, Abdulaziz Yari from Zamfara West is currently vying for Senate President; Sani Musa is vying for Deputy Senate President while Muktar Betara, is campaigning for Speakership of the House of Representatives . Many others have lined up for the positions too.
But in their support for the choices made by the NWC of APC , the National Assembly Legislative Aides from North West , said the party was in order for picking Senator Jibrin Barau for Deputy President of the Senate and Rt Hon Tajudeen Abbas for Speakership of the House of Representatives .
The forum in its statement signed by Zonal Leader, Abdulrazaq Dunkawa and Secretary, Silas Gabriel Garba, said the Northwest deserves the two presiding officers’ positions zoned to it for contributing the highest number of votes to the APC in the Presidential and National Assembly elections.
The statement reads in part: “We, Legislative Aides from the North West like to place on record that the geo – political zone contributed the highest number of votes to the APC in the Presidential and National Assembly elections.
“Results from the elections show that North West played crucial role of keeping APC in power by securing the majority of honourable members and distinguished Senators in both chambers.
“The zone no doubt rightly deserves the zoning made by the party as far as leadership of the 10th National Assembly is concerned.
“We therefore call on other contestants to allow for party supremacy to establish discipline, order and legislative democracy to thrive in the 10th National Assembly “.
There had been apprehension in various camps as many say the party may experience a repeat of the 2015 NASS leadership election outcome where the opposition had their way due to imposition of candidates by the ruling party, the APC.

By: Nneka Amaechi-Nnadi, Abuja