NewStats: 3,259,492 , 8,170,312 topics. Date: Sunday, 25 May 2025 at 10:10 AM 1sb1q

The House of Representatives, on Tuesday, rejected a constitutional amendment bill seeking to rotate the office of the president and vice president among the six geopolitics zones of the country.

In addition, the House rejected six other constitutional alteration bills listed in the order paper of the House for consideration.

It, however, resolved to bring back the bills on Wednesday and consider them on their individual merit.

The House had at the commencement of debate set aside its rules to allow it take the constitutional alteration bills simultaneously, while allowing to choose any of the seven listed on which they wish to debate on.

However, most chose the bill seeking to rotate the office of the President and Vice President among the six geopolitical zones, with many opposing the idea and warning against setting a dangerous precedent with it.

Deputy Minority Leader, Aliyu Madaki, led the opposition to the bill, saying that issues the bill intend to cure has been addressed by the Federal Character Commission, warning that the issue of rotation should not be included in the constitution, but allowed to remain the way it is.

Madaki argued that the existing political parties already have mechanism to ensure fair representation in the sharing of offices at every given electoral period.

Sada Soli (APC, Katsina) described the proposed alteration as ingenuous, but wondered whether it will work against the issue of quality.

He stressed that adopting the rotation principle will not be in the interest of the country as it will promote regional and ethnic rivalry among the various zones of the country.

In his debate, Shina Oyedeji (PDP, Oyo) said if the rotational principle is included in the constitution, every state and tribe in the various zones will begin another round of agitation for fairness and justice.

He believe that everybody in the country should be given equal opportunity to aspire to the office of the President and Vice President, saying “if you adopt zoning and it’s comes to the South West for example, which state will take the position? Is it Ogun or Oyo.

Also reacting, Bello Mohammed El-Rufai wondered what will happen if the President dies while in office like it happened when former President Umaru Musa Yar’adua died in office.

He argued that adopting the provision will also infringe on the right of all Nigerians to contest for any office of their choice, adding that even if the rotation principle is allowed, there will always be mistrust among the people.

He sai, “Whatever you do in Nigeria, there will always be a cry of marginalisation. We should not engage in a dangerous precedent by putting it in the Constitution”.

Olumide Osoba (APC, Ogun) said even though the amendment might be a unique one, it will be out of place to force the political parties on where to choose their candidates during elections.

However, Minority Whip, Ali Isa said the six geopolitical zones should be allowed to have a shot at the Presidency and also extended to the state level so that governorship is rotated among the three senatorial zones.

He argued that all geopolitical zones in the country have well qualified persons who can manage the affairs of the country and even the West African subregion, adding that even the Federal Character principle provides that there should be fairness among all states of the country.

He commended the Deputy Speaker for acknowledging the fact that there is the need to allow fairness, saying “in 2027, we should allow the Presidency go to the North East for the sake of fairness and allow all zones to produce the President”.

In his debate, Clement Jimbo (APC, Akwa Ibom) said the bill seeks to cure the age long injustice metted on the minority groups in the country, adding that a proviso be included in the Constitution that will ensure that after all zones has had a shut at the Presidency, the principal be brought to an end.

However, the bill on rotational presidency and other Constitution Alteration bills failed to scale through second reading after a voice vote which was preceded by a debate on the issue among lawmakers.

Other bills rejected are the bills are:

A bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to remove from Independent National Electoral Commission, the Powers of Registration and Regulation of political Parties in Nigeria and Transfer same to the Office of the Registrar General of Political Parties

A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Cap. C23, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 to Provide for the Principle of Rotation of the Offices of the President and the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria among the Six Geopolitical Zones of the Country, Namely: North Central, North East, North West, South East, South South, and South West. (sponsored by Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Okezie Kalu)

A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Cap. C23, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 to provide for Establishment, Independence, and Functions of the Office of the State Auditors-General for Local Governments and the Federal Capital Territory Area Councils, to Strengthen Fiscal Oversight, Promote ability and enhance Good Governance at the Grassroots and a bill for an Act to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Create Ughelli East Local Government Area in Delta State.

They made a very big mistake. Nigeria will never know true peace and unity until we legally define how to rotate power between the competing zones/ethnicity. The ethnic tension we are having today is largely as a result of the competition for presidential power and nothing else. With rotation legally defined, everyone will simply wait for their turn instead of constantly trying to tear down the government headed by an opposing/competing ethnicity/ zone.

Olule

Whilst the bill is a good one, I its rejection.
It will exacerbate the problem it is trying to solve.

Torr

fergie001:
Whilst the bill is a good one, I its rejection.
It will exacerbate the problem it is trying to solve.

I think not.

The only thing I don’t like about the bill is its provision for 6 years tenure.

Asides that, I think until we are more democratically mature, rotation of power should be constitutionally enshrined for now.

It will prevent one part of the country from constituting themselves as rulers while condemning others to perpetual followers whilst making mockery of them.

And this should include governorship and Local Government Chairmanship.

I see nothing wrong in that.

Nigeria can never be 1 then

Any southern HOR that oppose the bill should be stoned!

Imagin, hmmm i wish to know those that rejected the bill and the states they hail from.

Deputy Speaker Kalu wan dey position himself to become president on behalf of SE or why on earth is he the one sponsoring this bill😂

Rotational presidency is the best option for Nigeria and the only option that will stop the disintegration of Nigeria.

Nigerian presidency has been rotating between the south west and north west since 1999 ( only a Jonathan time occasioned by unforseen circumstances).
This situation cannot persist and you expect Nigeria to remain a united country, it is not possible

Why will the presidency be rotated? Let's the best candidate come out from whatever region he is we would vote for him.

The forcës of oppression, subjugation and man inhumanity to fellow man have spoken at the House of Reps & now speaking on Nairaland

Truly, Nigeria is evil, satanic & irredeemable!!!

Spits !!!

Ok, noted.

I bet , those against this rotation majorly would come from the northern reps.....Cus they feel they've got the numbers to decide on who's gonno become the president abi?......

This will create more problem. Next we will have a problem of state zoning and Senatorial zoning for the president.

Trustmea:
Imagin, hmmm i wish to know those that rejected the bill and the states they hail from.

Their names are there

Hmmmm

Nice move! People need to understand that to be president you have to work for it, you have to build bridges, build trust!

Not abuse others, gaslight people, threaten secession sow division and then say it’s your turn.

So no Ibo presidency till Jesus comes be that, really sad! 😭

Check names of Reps that rejected the bill, they are all Hausa-Fulanis and Yorubas, the two Siamese twins that have swore that Nigeria will never move forward in equity, fairness and justice.

The forces of nature are taking note, time will make you people understand better, continue

Only chance for igbo to be president is gone

It should be rejected. Zoning should be completely criminized.

Very simple thing to do!

I wonder why orderliness and procedure is a very big issue in Nigeria.

No wonder we keep running in circles without progress.



😭😭😭😭😭

porthouse7:
Only chance for igbo to he president is gone

Hiaaaaaaaa!


Mrs God who knows everything, Weldon o!

Okay nah.

Igbos want the Presidency to be zoned to their bill, it will never happen. Go and contest with others. Face your fears again and again until you conquer it.

Tinubu took on the whole saboteurs and traitors in APC and conquered them. Atikulation Abubakar took on the whole PDP and snatched the party ticket, only Bitter Obituary ran away from PDP primary and when to get a free uncontested ticket in LP. You people should stop this cowardice

in a multi cultural country as ours , this is what we need but these people are bereft of ideas.

fergie001:

This is true, we don't need another Yaya Bello

"Also reacting, Bello Mohammed El-Rufai wondered what will happen if the President dies while in office like it happened when former President Umaru Musa Yar’adua died in office."

Good, I love that. If even rotation has to occur it is either The North or The South nothing like six geo political anywhere.

GOOD DECISION