N’Central youths back govs, say APC zoning formula won’t stand
Tamarauemi Ebimini
North Central Youth Stakeholders Forum (NCYSF), yesterday, threw its weight behind decision reached at a recent meeting of the zone’s governors and National Assembly members-elect concerning zoning arrangement for the 10th National Assembly leadership.
It said the region would only accept the Senate Presidency and Speakership of the House of Representatives. A statement by NCYSF leader, Mohammed A. Mohammed, said the zoning arrangement announced by the National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC NWC) is a deliberate attempt to undermine contributions of the North Central to survival of the party, its victory at the February 25, 2023 election, and at subsequent polls.
Recall that APC micro-zoned the position of Senate President to Godswill Akpabio, with Jibrin Barau as Deputy Senate President, while Tajudeen Abbas was anointed as the aspirant for Speaker of the House of Representatives, with Benjamin Kalu as Deputy.
The group said: “We find it unbecoming that other regions that performed abysmally at the polls were given preference in the zoning arrangement of the APC NWC, while the North Central, which contributed optimally to the victory of the APC and its presidential candidate, is relegated.
“It is all the more insulting that even considering North Central for third positions in the legislative houses is the subject of debates and speculations.
“In the light of this, we wish to invite the intervention of all stakeholders in the APC to impress on the NWC and all those behind this agenda to rescind, withdraw, review and reverse this unpopular decision, and in the alternative, allow elected federal legislators to form their leadership.
NCYSF added: “We call on the incoming President to do all he can, to reclaim his statesmanship by supporting what clearly is the popular will of the people, against those who want to subvert it.
“For the avoidance of doubt therefore, and for those who have ears to hear, North Central will never settle for any other position lower than the Senate Presidency and Speakership of the House of Representatives.”
