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Although the prominent Civil Right Advocacy Group:- HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) has expressed confidence that the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) has not conclusively ruled out accommodating Senators and House of Representatives ranking members in the hierarchy of the National Assembly, it has cautioned that doing so will offend section 42 (1) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, as amended.
HURIWA also said that excluding such a large group of citizens of Nigeria from the political hierarchy of the Nigerian State would amount to elevating apartheid as a national matrix.
The group said that from the reading of the public press statement from the national hierarchy of APC, there is no where that the ruling party had drawn the curtain to a close against the South East in the hierarchies of both chambers of the National Assembly.
It however warned the APC and the President -elect, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu that exclusion of the South East is a violation of section 42 (1) of the constitution which provides that; “
42 (1) A citizen of Nigeria of a particular community, ethnic group, place of origin, sex, religion or political opinion shall not, by reason only that he is such a person:- (a)be subjected either expressly by, or in the practical application of, any law in force in Nigeria or any executive or administrative action of the government, to disabilities or restrictions to which citizens of Nigeria of other communities, ethnic groups, places of origin, sex, religions or political opinions are not made subject; or (b) be accorded either expressly by, or in the practical application of, any law in force in Nigeria or any such executive or administrative action, any privilege or advantage that is not accorded to citizens of Nigeria of other communities, ethnic groups, places of origin, sex, religions or political opinions. (2)No citizen of Nigeria shall be subjected to any disability or deprivation merely by reason of the circumstances of his birth”.
Citing a press statement endorsed by the ranking member of the ruling party Barr. Felix Morka National Publicity Secretary of All Progressives Congress (APC) the party stated its position thus: “NATIONAL WORKING COMMITTEE ANNOUNCES ZONING FOR LEADERSHIP OF 10TH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY.”
Excerps from the signed copy of the media statement in the possession of HURIWA did not in anyway eliminate the South East from the hierarchies of both chambers of the National Assembly just as the statement went as follows: “The National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) met today, Monday, May 8, 2023 to consider reports of consultations and meetings held with the President-Elect, His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, other Party leaders and stakeholders on zoning arrangement for 10th National Assembly leadership positions.
“The NWC noted with respect the outcome of the meetings held between the President-Elect and the leadership of the NWC. The NWC called for further and better consultation with necessary stakeholders in order to assure the support of the aspirants to the National Assembly leadership positions and members of the Party nationwide.
“The zoning arrangement reported to the NWC is as follows:
SENATE: 1. Senate President – South South – Senator Godswill Akpabio (Akwa-lbom). 2. Deputy Senate President – North West – Senator Barau Jubrin (Kano).
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:
3. Speaker, House of Representatives – North West – Hon. Abass Tajudeen (Kaduna). 4. Deputy Speaker – South East – Hon. Ben Kalu (Abia)
We urge our party leaders, members and all Nigerians to continue to work for peace and progress of our country during and beyond the current period of leadership transition.”