House of Representatives rejects bill on rotational presidency

May 13, 2025

By Ayinde Adeleke

The House of Representatives has rejected a bill seeking to amend the 1999 constitution to provide for rotation of the offices of the president and vice president among the six geopolitical zones of the country.

The bill, sponsored by the Deputy Speaker of the House, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, was titled: “A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Cap. C23, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 to Provide for the Principle of Rotation of the Offices of the President and the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria among the Six Geopolitical Zones of the Country, Namely: North Central, North East, North West, South East, South South, and South West and for Related Matters (HB. 2291).”

The bill was among the seven constitution amendment bills listed for second reading on the House Order Paper for Tuesday.

After the House Leader read the titles of the bills, the Deputy Speaker opened the floor for lawmakers to make their contributions.

Rep Aliyu Madaki (NNPP, Kano) opposed the bill, saying the issue of zoning of presidency should be left to individual political parties to decide.

“There is no need to enshrine such provision in the constitution,” he argued, adding that the principle of federal character already covered the issue.

However, Rep Ali Isah (PDP, Gombe) disagreed, saying enshrining rotational presidency in the constitution would promote fairness and a sense of belonging for all geopolitical zones. “It would engender fairness and sense of belonging for all the geopolitical zones of the country,” he said.

Rep Sada Soli (APC, Katsina) opposed the bill, saying it would lead to the enthronement of mediocrity over competence.

“It could play up regional and ethnic interests over competency. It will encourage limited choice of people that can vie for office and it will encourage regional rivalry which negates the spirit of unity,” Soli said.

In response, Kalu dismissed the argument on mediocrity, saying every geopolitical zone has competent and capable people who can occupy the offices of president and vice president.

“The essence of the bill is to ensure that every part of the country has the opportunity to contribute to the governance and development of the country,” he said.

Rep Shina Oyedeji opposed the bill, noting that democracy is about healthy competition. “Including clauses of zoning and regional sentiments negated democratic principles. Everybody should be given the chance to stand and contest an election in any given opportunity,” he said.

Rep Bello El-Rufai (APC, Kaduna) also opposed the bill, saying it would lead to regional and ethnic rivalries given the multiplicity of ethnicities in the country.