The National Conference Committee on Political Restructuring and Forms of Government has recommended the entrenchment of the zoning principle in the electoral Act.
The decision was reached after an exhaustive debate by members who want it to form part of the provisions of the 1999 constitution and others who said it should be the business of the political parties to decide.
The Co-Chairman of the committee and a delegate representing the North east geo-political zone, Honourable Mohammed Kumaila, while reading the resolution said the rotation principle will be entrenched in the electoral act and in the political parties’ constitution to reflect how power will be zoned in the states and the centre.
Speaking earlier, the former deputy governor of Kogi State and a delegate representing North Central geo-political zone, Dr. Philip Salawu, expressed his support for the zoning principle which he said should be practiced at the centre, states and local government levels.
The Ebira Kogi State born politician said that presidency should alternate between North and South on the basis of the six geo-political zone. Adding that it should be included in the 1999 federal constitution.
He said “If we entrench zoning in our constitution, the quest for state creation would not been necessary anymore.”
In his own, Chairman Enugu State Council of Traditional Rulers, Igwe (Amb) Lawrence Agubuzu told the committee to decide on how the rotation will work to save the delegates the stress of going through many processes.
He maintained that the rotational principle should be based on geo political zones.
