Controversy over reports of APC’s alleged zoning of Senate Presidency to Northwest

***As party national chairman debunks reports, says it is fake News

A report alleging that the All Progressives Congress(APC) has finally opted to zone the senate’s presidency position to the North West Geo-political zone has stoked controversy in the ruling party.

The report credited to some groups within the party had indicated that the odds favoured Senator Barau Jibrin who is one of the highest ranking senators having spent a term in the House of Representatives and now a third timer in the Senate.

This is apart from others in the North Central who believe is their turn.Those of the North Central have been canvassing for Senator Sanni Musa, whom they referred to as a bridge builder

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, however described as fake, the widely reported news of the zoning arrangements in the National Assembly.

Adamu, declared while addressing journalists after he cast his vote at his Keffi, Nasarawa State, country home on Saturday that no such thing had taken place

He was reacting to a news report that Senator Barau Jibrin, was being favoured to emerge as the Senate President, because the APC had zoned the Senate Presidency to the North West.

But Adamu wondered why politicians would be engaging in wishful thinking instead of awaiting the official pronouncement from the party.

He said, “The report about the zoning arrangements for the 10th National Assembly is fake news. We have not done any zoning.

“I have said it times without number since Monday. I am still saying the same thing. No zoning has been established yet and agreed to.

“No zoning has been made public. Anybody who is saying anything, is a rumour. It’s a wishful rumour.

Also in a statement titled, “APC Yet To Zone Key 10th National Assembly Positions,” signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, on Saturday, described stories of the zoning arrangements, as false and misleading.

Morka said, “The attention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been drawn to a report circulating on social media on purported zoning of key positions of the incoming 10th National Assembly. The report is false and misleading, and should be disregarded in its entirety.

“The Party has not made any decision on zoning of positions or offices of the 10th Assembly.

“As soon as a decision is made on zoning, it will be made public through the Party’s official communications channel.”

The said false report claimed that the decision on zoning was reached on Friday night, by the leadership of the APC after consulting with the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“The decision takes pre-eminence over earlier suggestions in some quarters to zone the position to the South,” it further claimed.

The earlier report had indicated that Barau’s two main competitors from the South, Senators Orji Uzor Kalu and Godswill Akpabio, are only two termers, while former Governor Abdul’azeez Yari is a first termer.

It was gathered that the decision was reached friday night by the leadership of the APC after consulting with the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The decision the report indicated will take pre-eminence over earlier suggestions in some quarters to zone the position to the South.Our usually reliable source revealed that what swung the decision in favour of the North West was that the APC Presidential candidate got his highest number of votes from the zone.Some Top leaders of the party from the zone in the report were said to have made that very strong case for the North West.They maintained that the zone should be rewarded for its performance during the presidential election.They went further to say having the Senate President from the North West will spur the zone to give His Excellency more votes in his reelection in 2027 God willing.”It would amount to a great mistake if the position of the President of the Senate is gifted to zones where we got very little votes .This should not be done due to the pressure mounted by those who are calling for the socalled “religious balance’.This country has gone beyond this kind of sentiment.”There must be reward for performance otherwiset, God forbid our party will be doomed in future elections. we should not rob Peter to pay Paul.”We must take a cue on how H.E Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu won the primary and the general elections to become the President-elect.”He succeeded based on his foresight, hard work, and above all, Merit. He never resorted to evoking religious sentiment.This was emphasized in his statement to the nation yesterday, that his cabinet shall be “devoid of ethnic and religious considerations”There are several other positions that could go to such zones”, the party Chieftain stated.The decision to zone the Senate Presidency to the North West has now opened a flurry of support for Senator Barau Jibrin from Kano North Senatorial District.Amongst the aspirants for the Senate Presidency, Senator

Part of the highlights of the meeting is the Zoning of the Speakership of House of Representatives to the South East while the Deputy President of the Senate is zoned to the South South. The position of the Deputy Speaker has been zoned to the North Central while that of Senate Majority Leader is zoned to South West. That of House Majority Leader has also been zoned to the North East.