10th NASS: Lawmakers forum backs Akpabio-Barau ticket

Scores of former senators and House of Representatives members under the aegis of Forum of APC Ex-Legislators have thrown their weight behind the ruling All Progressives Congress over its recent zoning arrangement for the 10th National Assembly.

The APC had on Monday micro-zoned the position of Senate president to the immediate past Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio and Deputy Senate President to the Chairman of Senate Committee on Appropriation, Senator Jibrin Barau.

The decision was announced by the National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka after a three-and-a-half-hour meeting of the National Working Committee.

The arrangement had sparked outrage from other aspirants in the race with many blaming the party leadership for not consulting them before making the announcement.

In a subsequent meeting with the Senator Abdullahi Adamu-led NWC, four of the aggrieved aspirants threatened to revolt by disobeying the party position if the zoning formula is not reviewed.

The aspirants included former Zamfara Governor, Abdulaziz Yari; the senator-elect representing Imo West, Osita Izunaso; Sani Musa (Niger East), Umar Sadiq (Kwara North) and Senate Chief Whip, Orji Uzor Kalu.

Rising from a crucial closed-door meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, members of the APC Ex-Legislators Forum disclosed that they have taken a position by standing with the zoning arrangement of the president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinibu, and the APC.

Addressing journalists after the political roundtable, former Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, and National Chairman of the forum, Babangida Nguroje, however, urged for more consultation, especially with the aggrieved senators, to ensure a united front.

He said, �The Forum, specifically commends the national leadership of our Party, the APC ably led by Senator Abdullahi Adamu, members of the National Working Committee and leaders across board for not just zoning the position of the Senate President to the South-South but for micro zoning and identifying with Senator (Dr.) Godswill Akpabio and Senator Jubril Barau as Senate President and Deputy Senate President respectively of the 10th Senate of the National Assembly.

�Our position and reason are not farfetched but in whole support of the Senate standing rule 3, (2) 1, 11, 111 and IV which holds that the presiding officers shall be first, a former senator, returning or ranking senator or new senator-Elect in a situation where there are no ranking senators. It is therefore good to note that Akpabio and Barau possess these characteristics and qualities to lead the 10th Senate of the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.�

Nguroje also noted that the forum of former legislators also kicked against the recent attempt by some members of the South South Zone to have the zoning arrangement discarded.

The ex-deputy speaker further argued that the Akpabio-Barau ticket reflects a striking balance to the need for federal character and equity in the chamber.

�This Forum notes with disdain the purported press briefing held by a group of former Members from the South-South Zone, berating the zoning arrangement as announced by the National Working Committee of our Party.

�The Forum further notes the provision of Section 14 (3) of the Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) which states thus: The composition of the Government of the Federation or any of its agencies and the conduct of its affairs shall be carried out in such a manner as to reflect the Federal Character of Nigeria and the need to promote National Unity, thereby ensuring that there shall be no predominance of persons from a few states or from a few ethnic or other sectional groups in that government or any of its agencies.

�We hereby state categorically that the Akpabio-Barau ticket, the stabilisation team is nationalistic and not sectional and should be seen as such. It is also reflective of one vexed issue of justice, equity and fairness that Nigerians are clamouring for,� he urged.

In attendance at the meeting were former Senators, former House of Representatives, former Principal Officers and members of States Houses�of�Assembly.