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By Francesca Hangeior

Members of the House of Representatives has rejected a constitutional amendment bill seeking to rotate the office of the president and vice president among the six geopolitics zones of the country.

In addition, the House rejected six other constitutional alteration bills listed in the order paper of the House for consideration.

It, however, resolved to bring back the bills on Wednesday and consider them on their individual merit.

The House had at the commencement of debate set aside its rules to allow it take the constitutional alteration bills simultaneously, while allowing members to choose any of the seven listed on which they wish to debate on.

However, most members chose the bill seeking to rotate the office of the President and Vice President among the six geopolitical zones, with many members opposing the idea and warning against setting a dangerous precedent with it.

Deputy Minority Leader, Aliyu Sani Madaki led the opposition to the bill, saying that issues the bill intend to cure has been addressed by the Federal Character Commission, warning that the issue of rotation should not be included in the constitution, but allowed to remain the way it is.

Madaki argued that the existing political parties already have mechanism to ensure fair representation in the sharing of offices at every given electoral period.

Sada Soli (APC, Katsina) described the proposed alteration as ingenuous, but wondered whether it will work against the issue of quality.

He stressed that adopting the rotation principle will not be in the interest of the country as it will promote regional and ethnic rivalry among the various zones of the country.

Shina Oyedeji (PDP, Oyo) said if the rotational principle is included in the constitution, every state and tribe in the various zones will begin another round of agitation for fairness and justice.

He believe that everybody in the country should be given equal opportunity to aspire to the office of the President and Vice President, saying “if you adopt zoning and it’s comes to the South West for example, which state will take the position? Is it Ogun or Oyo.

Bello Mohammed ElRufai wondered what will happen if the President dies while in office like it happened when former President Umaru Musa Yar’adua died in office, saying will you ask the Vice President to vacate office to pave the way for another President from that zone?

ElRufai argued that adopting the provision will also infringe on the right of all Nigerians to contest for any office of their choice, adding that even if the rotation principle is allowed, there will always be mistrust among the people.

He said “whatever you do in Nigeria, there will always be a cry of marginalisation. We should not engage in a dangerous precedent by putting it in the Constitution”.

Olumide Osoba (APC, Ogun) said even though the amendment might be a unique one, it will be out of place to force the political parties on where to choose their candidates during elections.

However, Minority Whip, Ali Is a said the six geopolitical zones should be allowed to have a shut at the Presidency and also extended to the state level so that governorship is rotated among the three senatorial zones.

He argued that all geopolitical zones in the country have well qualified persons who can manage the affairs of the country and even the West African subregion, adding that even the Federal Character principle provides that there should be fairness among all states of the country.

He commended the Deputy Speaker for acknowledging the fact that there is the need to allow fairness, saying “in 2027, we should allow the Presidency go to the North East for the sake of fairness and allow all zones to produce the President”.

Clement Jimbo (APC, Akwa Ibom) said the bill seeks to cure the age long injustice metted on the minority groups in the country, adding that a proviso be included in the Constitution that will ensure that after all zones has had a shut at the Presidency, the principal be brought to an end.

The bills are a bll for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to remove from Independent National Electoral Commission, the Powers of Registration and Regulation of political Parties in Nigeria and Transfer same to the Office of the Registrar General of Political Parties, and a Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Cap. C23, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 to Provide for the Principle of Rotation of the Offices of the President and the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria among the Six Geopolitical Zones of the Country, Namely: North Central, North East, North West, South East, South South, and South West.

Others are Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Cap. C23, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 to provide for Establishment, Independence, and Functions of the Office of the State Auditors-General for Local Governments and the Federal Capital Territory Area Councils, to Strengthen Fiscal Oversight, Promote Accountability and enhance Good Governance at the Grassroots and a bill for an Act to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Create Ughelli East Local Government Area in Delta State.

The bills also include a ill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Cap. C23, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 to provide for the Number of Judges of the Federal High Court to be not less than one hundred or such other Number as may be prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly, Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Cap. C23, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 to expand the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court to include Admiralty Jurisdiction, including Shipping and Navigation on the River Niger, River Benue and their effluents, and on such other Inland Waterways as may be designated by an Act of the National Assembly as International Waterways, all Federal Ports, and Carriage by Sea.

There is also the Bill for an Act to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Empower the National Judicial Council to Fix and Review, in conjunction with the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, the Salaries, Allowances, and other Emoluments of Judicial Officers and Staff of the Judiciary.