The House of Representatives on Tuesday turned down a constitutional amendment bill seeking to rotate the offices of President and Vice President among Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
In a related development, lawmakers also rejected a separate bill aimed at removing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s authority to register and supervise political parties across the nation.
These two proposals were part of seven constitution amendment bills scheduled for deliberation. In total, five of the bills were voted down during the plenary session. However, following a point of order raised by Deputy Minority Leader, Rep. Ali Jesse, who invoked Order 9, Rule 6, the House resolved to revisit the rejected bills on Wednesday.
The rule stipulates that any motion to overturn a previous decision must be introduced as a substantive motion on notice. Consequently, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas instructed the Committee on Rules and Business to re-list the bills for reconsideration at the next sitting.
To fast-track the debate process, the House earlier suspended its rules, allowing lawmakers to discuss all seven bills concurrently.
The bill proposing rotational presidency sparked the most heated discussions. Many lawmakers expressed concern that constitutionalizing zoning could aggravate rather than resolve regional and ethnic tensions. Deputy Minority Leader, Hon. Aliyu Sani Madaki, argued that the existing Federal Character principle already promotes inclusiveness. He added that zoning should remain a political, not constitutional, practice, as parties already have internal frameworks to ensure broad representation.
Echoing this view, Hon. Sada Soli acknowledged the bill’s good intentions but warned that enshrining zoning in the constitution might undermine merit and fuel division. Hon. Shina Peller cautioned that such an arrangement could breed intra-zonal rivalries. “If it’s the South West’s turn, which state gets the nod—Oyo or Ogun?” he queried, emphasizing the need for equal chances for all Nigerians.
Hon. Bello El-Rufai raised a hypothetical scenario in which a sitting President dies. He questioned whether a Vice President from a different zone would be compelled to resign mid-term, calling such rigidity a threat to national cohesion and individual rights.
Hon. Olumide Osoba added that although the proposal sounded novel, it was unwise to legislate how political parties should select their candidates.
Nevertheless, some lawmakers endorsed the bill. Minority Whip, Rep. Ali Isa, advocated for rotational presidency, even recommending it be extended to governorships. He proposed that for fairness, every region should have access to the presidency and suggested the North East produce the next President in 2027.
Hon. Clement Jimbo, another supporter, said the bill sought to address longstanding marginalization of minority zones. He recommended a sunset clause to phase out the rotational system after each geopolitical zone has had a turn.
Other proposed amendments debated on the floor included one seeking to formalize the independence and responsibilities of State Auditors-General for Local Governments and FCT Area Councils to enhance grassroots accountability. Another bill proposed the creation of Ughelli East Local Government Area in Delta State.
The House also discussed a proposal to increase the minimum number of Federal High Court judges to 100, with provisions to expand the figure through future legislation. Another amendment aimed to broaden the Federal High Court’s jurisdiction to cover admiralty matters, including shipping, navigation on inland waterways, and federal ports.
Additionally, one bill sought to empower the National Judicial Council (NJC), in collaboration with the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, to set and periodically adjust the salaries and allowances of judicial officers and staff.
To this end, Speaker Abbas directed that the Committee on Rules and Business ensure the motion for rescission is included on the Order Paper for Wednesday, May 14, 2025, so that each bill may be reconsidered on its own merit.
