APC denies zoning NASS leadership positions

• NWC Meets Wednesday
• South South Should Produce Deputy Speaker, Says Coalition

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has refuted media reports that it has settled on the zoning arrangements for the 10th National Assembly leadership positions.

APC’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Felix Morka, in a terse statement yesterday, said there was no iota of truth in reports circulating in sections of social media on the issue.

“The information did not emanate from the party and should be disregarded.

“To be clear, the party has yet to zone positions of leadership of the 10th National Assembly. Any decisions made in that regard will be duly communicated via the party’s official information channels,” he said.

This was as the National Chairman of the party, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, has summoned a meeting of the party’s administrative organ, the National Working Committee (NWC).

The meeting, scheduled to hold on Wednesday, is coming on the heels of the decision by the party’s National Vice Chairman (North West), Dr. Salihu Lukman, to drag him alongside the National Secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore, to court over alleged breach of the party’s constitution.

A source who pleaded anonymity hinted on the issues that may be tabled for deliberation during the parley thus: “The issues slated for discussion will include the review of the just concluded general election; consider the preliminary reports of an external auditor engaged to look into the books of the party in anticipation for the preparation of a financial report to be presented to National Executive Committee (NEC) whenever it is conveyed.

“Wednesday’s meeting will also afford the NWC the opportunity to mend the rough edges among themselves, especially as it regards the two letters by Mal. Salihu Lukman and the legal action he instituted against the National Chairman and National Secretary.

“It is going to be a loaded meeting where far-reaching decisions will be taken ahead of the NEC meeting and the May 29 inauguration of President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima.”

Meanwhile, a coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) under the aegis of Progressive Parliamentary Support Alliance (PPSA) has said it would be fair and just to cede the seat of the deputy speaker of the House of Representatives to the South South geo-political zone of the country.

Led by Mr. Bala Mohammed, the group expressed solidarity for the incumbent Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Power, Reverend Francis Waive, member representing Ughelli North Ughelli South Udu Federal Constituency of Delta State.

While stressing that the election of a Christian Deputy Speaker would go a long way to balance religion, equity and justice in tandem with Federal Character Principle in the 10th Assembly, the coalition stated that Waive has all it takes to deputise the Speaker in the 10th Assembly.

The coalition specifically emphasised the need to ensure that Christians have adequate representation in the body of Principal Officers in the Green Chamber, while urging the President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to cede the position of Deputy Speaker in the 10th Assembly to Christians from the South South geo-political zone.

The group argued that after a diligent assessment of all the lawmakers from the South South region, it found Waive worthy of being elected as the Deputy Speaker.

Waive is the incumbent Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Power and member of several Standing Committees in the 9th Assembly.

The coalition said: “We wish to put on record that we are not opposed to the choice of a Muslim Speaker in the 10th Assembly, but we wish to unequivocally demand for religious balancing especially among the two Principal Officers – Speaker and Deputy Speaker.

“This becomes very germane to the principles of fairness and equity. Recall that Nigerians and Christian community took it in good faith when the leadership of APC resorted to the Muslim-Muslim joint ticket in the 9th Assembly.

“And it is very expedient to point out that with the Muslim-Muslim joint ticket which was replicated with the choice of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Senator Kasim Shettima, the Parliament should reflect religious balancing.

“From series of assessment carried out on all the three geo-political zones – South South, South West and South East – we can attest to the character and personality of Hon. Reverend Francis Waive as the man fit for the job.”