10th NASS: TSA, APC Ward Chairmen Seek Review Of Zoning Formula

A support group of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Tinubu-Shetima Ambassadors (TSA) and the National Forum for APC ward chairmen have appealed to the All Progressives Congress (APC) to review its zoning arrangement to capture the North Central geopolitical zone in positions for presiding officers of the 10th National Assembly.

They made the appeal yesterday at a press conference organised to endorse Senator Mohammed Sani Musa for deputy senate president.

Director general of the TSA, Prince Oyelude Oladele, said as a progressive support group that campaigned and canvassed votes for Tinubu and Shettima before the general elections in all the zones, particularly in the North Central geopolitical zone, it would not be fair if the people of the zone are marginalised in spite of their loyalty and contributions to the success of the APC during the election.

Oladele said; “We are very optimistic that the next 8yrs of His Excellency, Asiwaju Sen. Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR and His Excellency, Sen. Kashim Shettima GCON will balance the 16yrs reign of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Nigerians to compare. In that case, we will always appeal to the progressive party to do the right things to avoid marginalisation of any region, zone, tribe or ethnic groups that may lead to destructive criticism of this new administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“We, the Tinubu-Shettima Ambassadors (TSA) and the National Forum for APC Ward Chairmen, in the spirit of fairness, equity, justice, inclusiveness, national cohesion and unity, hereby call on the APC national working committee, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu GCFR and the Vice President, Sen. Kashim Shettima GCON to review the National Assembly leadership zoning arrangement to accommodate the North Central zone, in order to give each zone of the country a sense of belonging.”

The TSA and forum of ward chairmen cautioned against favoritism or preference to any section of the country, saying no region should be marginalized, excluded or sidelined. 

They stated: “We are fully aware that the North West has been giving two presiding officer positions in both chambers of the National Assembly (NASS), the Speaker and Deputy Senate President by the APC National Assembly zoning arrangement, while the North Central was sidelined. This has created an image of favouritism towards the North West and marginalisation against the North Central geopolitical zone.

“Our unanimous decision to endorse distinguished senator Mohammed Sani Musa from the North Central geopolitical zone, came after careful examination of his leadership style, his contribution to the party and diverse APC support groups, before during and after the presidential election”.