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Inauguration Looms: Tinubu Wooing Oppostion Lawmakers as Zoning Arrangements Fail to Gain Traction

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is intensifying efforts to convince opposition lawmakers to back the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the selection process for principal officers of the 10th National Assembly. The President has scheduled a crucial meeting with federal lawmakers elected on the platforms of opposition parties for Monday at the presidential villa, Abuja, which could take precedence over a similar meeting planned by the Labour Party's Peter Obi with his party's lawmakers.

The meeting, which aims to persuade opposition lawmakers to support the APC's preferred candidates, comes as the ruling party's zoning arrangements for key leadership positions face opposition from some of its lawmakers. The APC had proposed the Senate president position for the South-South, deputy Senate president and Speaker of the House of Representatives for the North West, and deputy Speaker for the South East. However, some APC lawmakers have opposed the zoning arrangement, describing it as an "unconstitutional imposition of leadership" by forces outside the National Assembly.

Key Takeaways:

  • The APC has proposed zoning arrangements for key leadership positions, including the Senate president position for the South-South, deputy Senate president and Speaker of the House of Representatives for the North West, and deputy Speaker for the South East.
  • Some APC lawmakers have opposed the zoning arrangement, describing it as an "unconstitutional imposition of leadership" by forces outside the National Assembly.
  • President Tinubu has scheduled a meeting with opposition lawmakers to persuade them to support the APC's preferred candidates.
  • The meeting will take precedence over a similar meeting planned by Peter Obi with his party's lawmakers.
  • Opposition lawmakers have expressed willingness to attend the meeting, citing issues of national interest over partisan considerations.
  • The meeting aims to convince opposition lawmakers to support the APC's preferred candidates for principal officers of the 10th National Assembly.

Statistics:

  • The APC has secured the support of many opposition lawmakers for its preferred candidates.
  • The meeting will take place on Monday at the presidential villa, Abuja.
  • The APC has proposed the Senate president position for the South-South, which will be occupied by Senator Godswill Akpabio.
  • The deputy Senate president position will be occupied by Senator Barau Jubrin, while the Speaker of the House of Representatives will be occupied by Hon Tajudeen Abbas.
  • The opposition parties have expressed concerns over the APC's proposed zoning arrangements.

Sources:

  • Presidency's letter to lawmakers, signed by Tijani Umar, Permanent Secretary, State House.
  • LEADERSHIP newspaper.
  • Channel 1 news broadcast.
  • APC's national leadership.

Note: All referenced sources are cited exactly as they appear in the original text.

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