Bola Tinubu and Kashim Shettima, the president-elect and vice president-elect of Nigeria met with Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and other party leaders on Wednesday in an apparent effort to resolve the issue of the zoning of key officers of the incoming 10th National Assembly once and for all.
According to reports, zoning concerns for the National Assembly leadership seats were discussed, and this took place at the Defence House in Abuja, where the president-elect had been for an inspection before returning to work in advance of the May 29 inauguration.
Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege, Speaker of the House of Representatives Femi Gbajabiamila, Governor of Kwara State AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, and Speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly Hon. Yusuf Zailani were also present at the meeting.
Others are Deputy national chairman (North), Senator Abubakar Kyari, deputy national chairperson (South), Emma Eneukwu, national secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore, and former secretary of the APC presidential campaign council, James Faleke.
The APC national chairman, Adamu, declined to comment on the topics covered at the meeting and instead described it as a normal exercise when asked about the meeting’s outcome.
When asked if the discussion touched on the 10th National Assembly’s zoning, Adamu responded, “Nigerians should have patience with the party. We ought to wait. What is advantageous for the nation is advantageous for our party. Currently, we are rejoicing in our party’s triumph.”
While the zoning arrangement for major offices of the 10th National Assembly was reviewed during the meeting at Defence House, a source close to the proceedings told our correspondent that the discussion is scheduled to continue last night to reach a resolution on the issue.
After being proclaimed the victor of the presidential election, Tinubu is scheduled to move into Defence House. He was there, along with APC leaders, to assess the state of refurbishment in the president-elect’s official house.
Tinubu’s house had already turned into a Mecca of some sorts for federal politicians who besiege his Asokoro residence to advocate for the Senate president, Speaker of the House, and other important major offices of the 10th Assembly just hours after arriving in the nation.
Senators Godswill Akpabio, Jibrin Barau, Olamilekan Adeola, Opeyemi Bamidele, Emma Bwacha, and Tokunbo Abiru were present at the president-home elect on Tuesday.
Orji Uzor Kalu, the Senate chief whip, and Senator Osita Izunaso visited Tinubu Wednesday to deliver their certificates of return as senators-elect.
Nonetheless, they insisted that Tinubu, who had just returned from a month-long vacation in Paris, France, would have appreciated the visit.
Senator Rochas Okorocha, the former governor of Imo State, and Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State all met Tinubu at his home on April 26.
Conversations during the visits had consistently touched on the method of zoning for the 10th National Assembly’s key posts.
It was believed that the president-elect and the APC leaders were already meeting with candidates for the National Assembly leadership positions because Akpabio and other senators were present at Tinubu’s residence on Tuesday, which also happened to be the same day that the national chairman and national secretary of the APC, as well as other NWC members, arrived.
The conference on Wednesday was necessary due to the fierce lobbying by lawmakers for important positions and some desperate politicians who have been campaigning for the removal of zoning for National Assembly positions.
On his arrival, Tinubu reportedly instructed the APC leaders to consider electing a Christian from the South-South geographical zone as Senate president and to zone the Speaker of the House of Representatives to the North West.
According to reports, Tinubu visited each senator separately and informed them of his discussions with the party leadership.
Meanwhile, the chairman House Committee on Appropriations, Betara, held a meeting with the president-elect behind closed doors on Tuesday.
Although details of the meeting were not made public, it was gathered that it was not unconnected to Betara’s ambition to become speaker of the 10th House of Representatives.
Betara who represents Biu/Bayo/Shani/Kwaya Kusar federal constituency of Borno State is vigorously campaigning to clinch the coveted seat and member-elect are throwing their weight behind the lawmaker.
The president-elect was visible personally holding Betara’s hand as he led him into the inner room for discussions, this was seen in a video that his campaign media office made available on Wednesday morning.
Also seen in the video alongside Betara were Senate President Lawan, former Ekiti State governor, Kayode Fayemi, and a host of other loyalists of the president-elect