Senate Presidency: Coalition Kicks Against Zoning, Seeks Lawan Continuity

The National Coalition of APC Support Groups has called for the retention of the incumbent Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, saying the zoning arrangement being proposed is unnecessary.

The demand is coming in the wake of an agreement between the president-elect, Asíwájú Bola Tinubu, and the All Progressives Congress governors to allow the party leadership to work harmoniously with lawmakers to avoid precipitating a leadership crisis in the 10th National Assembly.

Tinubu, who spoke on Thursday, had urged Governors Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna), Hope Uzodimma (Imo) and others to allow the principal offices to be zoned instead of handpicking consensus candidates.

But the NCASG expressed strong resentment for the adoption of the zoning formula, saying it could create division and chaos in the Senate.

Addressing journalists in Abuja, the Chairman of the group, Yahaya Jarabu, disclosed that the ninth Senate has witnessed some level of remarkable improvement under Lawan leadership four years after it was inaugurated.

He said, “We strongly disagree with the desire of the Progressive Governors Forum to adopt a zoning formula for making the next President of the Senate. We are calling on the members of the National Assembly and other critical stakeholders to enable the incumbent President of the Senate Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan to continue steering the affairs of the Senate.

“This is in recognition of his sterling qualities and other unique attributes. Senate President under Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan, the 9th Senate was inaugurated four years ago with support from the members of the red chamber.

“Therefore, his re-election as the Senate President will sustain the tempo of integrity and avoid a repeat of the past assembly experience of rancour. We are calling on the APC national chairman and the president-elect including PMB to look into sustainable development and allow Senator Ahmed Lawan to continue as Senate president of the 10th Assembly.

“We must not also fail to mention that the Senate under Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan has so far been transparent and accountable by promoting the peaceful coexistence of Nigerians without discrimination of gender, religion or tribal differences in accessing the dividend of democracy through constitutional and electoral act amendments.”

(The Punch)