On Tuesday, the House of Representatives rejected a constitutional amendment bill proposing the rotation of the offices of President and Vice President among Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
In addition to this, six other constitutional amendment bills listed in the House’s order paper were also rejected. However, the House resolved to revisit the bills on Wednesday, opting to reconsider each on its individual merits.
At the start of deliberations, the House had suspended its rules to allow simultaneous consideration of all seven constitutional amendment bills, with members free to debate any of their choice.
The bill on rotational presidency attracted the most attention, with many lawmakers voicing strong opposition and warning that enshrining such a provision in the constitution could set a dangerous precedent.
Leading the opposition, Deputy Minority Leader Aliyu Madaki argued that the issues the bill sought to address were already covered by the Federal Character Commission. He insisted that rotation should not be constitutionally mandated but left to the discretion of political parties, which already have internal mechanisms for ensuring equitable distribution of political offices.
Sada Soli (APC, Katsina) described the idea as novel but questioned its implications on meritocracy, cautioning that it could foster regional and ethnic rivalry.
Shina Oyedeji (PDP, Oyo) warned that constitutionalizing rotational presidency could trigger fresh agitations, as different states and ethnic groups within each zone would begin demanding their turn. He stressed the need to allow equal opportunity for all Nigerians to aspire to the presidency, asking, “If it comes to the South West, for instance, which state gets it — Ogun or Oyo?”
Bello Mohammed El-Rufai echoed similar concerns, citing the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s death in office as a potential complication under a rotation system. He warned that such a policy could infringe on the rights of citizens to contest any office and deepen existing mistrust among Nigeria’s diverse populations.
Olumide Osoba (APC, Ogun) acknowledged that while the proposal might be well-intentioned, it would be inappropriate to dictate to political parties where to field candidates from.
On the other hand, Minority Whip Ali Isa supported the idea, advocating not only for rotation at the federal level but also at the state level, where governorship should rotate among senatorial districts. He emphasized that all zones in the country have capable individuals who can effectively govern and noted that the principle of federal character already promotes fairness in public office appointments.
He added, “In 2027, we should allow the Presidency to go to the North East in the spirit of equity, ensuring that every zone gets a chance.”
Clement Jimbo (APC, Akwa Ibom) argued in favor of the bill, saying it aims to correct long-standing injustices against minority groups. He proposed that a clause be included to terminate the rotational principle once all zones have produced a president.
Despite the extensive debate, the bill on rotational presidency, along with the other six constitutional amendment proposals, failed to pass second reading following a voice vote.
Other rejected bills included:
A bill to amend the 1999 Constitution to transfer the registration and regulation of political parties from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to a proposed Office of the Registrar General of Political Parties.
A bill to amend the Constitution to provide for the rotation of the offices of President and Vice President among the six geopolitical zones: North Central, North East, North West, South East, South South, and South West.
A bill to establish and ensure the independence of State Auditors-General for Local Governments and the Federal Capital Territory Area Councils, to promote fiscal responsibility and good governance at the grassroots level.
A bill to amend the Constitution to create Ughelli East Local Government Area in Delta State.
The House is expected to revisit the bills individually on Wednesday.
