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From Okwe Obi, Abuja.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Integrity Group, has told President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the party not to allow one geo-political zone to produce two presiding officers, in the 10th National Assembly.
The group’s Coordinator and Secretary, Dawu Mohammed and Chisom Nwakanma, in a statement on Sunday, argued that sensitive positions should be distributed evenly in order not to avert crisis.
They claimed that there were already alignments and counter alignments that would be injurious to the unity and existence of the party should they be allowed to exist.
Among those contesting for Senate Presiding Offices are: Senators Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia), Sani Musa (313 Niger), Jibrin Barau (Kano), Osita Izunaso (Imo) and Abdullazizi Yari (Zamfara).
For the House of Representatives are: Hons. Tajudeen Abass (Kaduna), Muktra Betara (Borno), Ahmed Idris Wase (Plateau), Ben Kalu (Abia), Miriam Onuoha (Imo), etc.
“We have observed the horse trading going on about the presiding offices of the 10th Assembly and we consider it pertinent to advise that two presiding offices should not go to one geo-political zone. Doing so, we believe would be injurious to the unity and existence of the party.
“We, also consider it a concern that the NWC of our party had till date not been able to come up with the zoning formula. This situation had led to different interests and agitations that we are witnessing among our elected lawmakers.
“The APC Integrity Group expect that those take lawmakers to the President-elect for endorsement should do that in the interest of the country and not because of juicy committees and other considerations.
“The President-elect and the party leadership should know that whatever crises that comes from the zoning and election of the presiding officers, they are responsible for them.
“It is our sincere view that the Deputy Senate President should be zoned to the North Central since the party is considering zoning the Speaker House of Representatives to the North West.”
“For us, what is paramount is a viable 10th National Assembly, which we believe could be achieved with proper zoning and competent leadership, the statement read.
