House Of Representatives Rejects Bill On Rotational Presidency

The House of Representatives has rejected a bill proposing rotational presidency among Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

The House of Representatives has rejected a bill proposing the rotation of the presidency among Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. Sponsored by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, the bill was voted down during Tuesday’s plenary session.

Leading the debate, Kalu argued that the bill would foster inclusivity and ensure that all regions contribute to the nation’s leadership. “There is no region that does not have capable people who can lead. 

It would increase national cohesion and national unity. What is good for the goose is also good for the gander,” he said.

However, opposition emerged from lawmakers like Sani Madaki, Deputy Minority Leader and member of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), who maintained that zoning should be managed by political parties rather than legislated. 

Ali Isa, the Minority Whip, supported the bill, emphasising that it would address marginalisation and promote fairness. Similarly, Clement Jimbo from Akwa Ibom described the bill as a means to “cure an age-long injustice,” particularly for minority zones that rarely hold presidential power. Conversely, Mohammed el-Rufai from Kaduna cautioned that the bill could infringe on Nigerians’ constitutional right to seek the presidency.

After the debate, Kalu called for a voice vote, but the majority of lawmakers voted against the bill. Despite attempts to reconsider the motion individually, as suggested by Francis Waive, Chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business, the bill remained rejected.

The House also voted down other bills during the session, including one sponsored by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas to strip the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of its power to register and regulate political parties. 

Additional rejected proposals included a bill to establish the office of the state auditor-general for local governments and the Federal Capital Territory area councils, a bill to ensure the number of judges at the Federal High Court is not less than 100, and a bill to empower the National Judicial Council to determine and review the salaries and allowances of judicial officers. A bill to create Ughelli East Local Government Area in Delta State also failed to pass.

In a procedural twist, the House acknowledged that some of the rejected bills had been previously debated and passed in earlier sessions, highlighting a lapse in record-keeping by the Committee on Rules and Business. 

Notably, in March, the House had already approved the bill seeking to remove INEC’s authority to register political parties, while in November 2024, it had dismissed a bill proposing a six-year single term for presidents and governors, including rotational executive powers.