Dark day for PDP as house members rubbish zoning formula

By Henry Umoru

Just few months after the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP found itself enmeshed in the controversy of the zoning of the nation”s presidency, the sharing of offices has again come to haunt the nation”s dominant political party.

After weeks of horse-trading, speculations, intrigues, day light and nocturnal meetings, seminars, retreat, threats by the leaders of the PDP, members of the PDP in the House of Representatives took a bold step against the party”s decision and crushed the party before their very eyes.

The party”s main enforcers, the Acting National Chairman, Dr. Mohammed Bello, the erstwhile chairman of the board of trustees, Chief Tony Anenih, Governor Timipire Sylva and other senior party officials were present in the chambers on that eventful Monday.

The PDP had at the end of its expanded National Caucus meeting last month rolled out its zoning formula for key political offices; the Party had zoned the Senate President to North Central, Deputy Senate President (Southeast) Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF (Southeast) Speaker, House of Representatives (Southwest) and National Chairman (Northeast).

The party said it became imperative to arrange it thus because the South South has produced President Goodluck Jonathan while the North West has Vice President Namadi Sambo.

During an expanded retreat for all PDP elected members including President Goodluck Jonathan, Vice-President Namadi Sambo, state Governors and the National Assembly members-elect that took in Abuja last weekend the party equally reiterated its resolve to enforce the sharing formula as earlier brokered by the national caucus. At the retreat, Jonathan and the acting National Chairman of the party, Bello tasked all the National Assembly members not to disregard the party”s position on the election of its leadership.

 The PDP was especially troubled by the scheming of party members from within and outside the Southwest to torpedo the arrangement for the election of a Speaker from the Southwest. The troubles of the party arose from the anger by members-elect from other zones that the Southwest which voted massively against the party during the elections was being rewarded with the post of Speaker.

Indeed, of the about 60 members of the House from the Southwest, the PDP produced only five out of which only three, were ranking members.

Of the trio, one who is a Christian was left out of consideration on account of the gentleman agreement that the Speaker should be a Moslem like the outgoing Speaker. While the Southwest caucus of the PDP initially resolved on Mr. Murina Ajibola for the position, the only other Moslem from the region, Mrs. Mulikat Adeola-Akande refused and picked up the gauntlet.

 Along the way, many other party members refocused on Aminu Tambuwal from Sokoto State who was also being supported by many members-elect from within and outside the party. The Party leadership became jittery when it became obvious that some members of the House with the support of some persons outside the lower legislative Chamber were pushing for Tambuwal, a third timer representing Kebbe /Tambuwal Constituency in Sokoto State. The PDP had to employ the services of governors to intervene as earlier meetings between some of the party leaders with the members-elect failed to yield results.

Before the election, expectations were high and Nigerians searchlight beamed to the House, just as proceedings started at about 11.15am and thereafter, Emmanuel Jime, PDP, Benue, nominated Tambuwal and was seconded by Nnena Elendu-Ukeje, representing Bende Federal Constituency that he should run for the Speakership.

Mulikat Akande-Adeola was nominated by Rep Bethel Amadi and seconded by Saidu Namadi to also run for the coveted position. Both Tambuwal and Adeola stood up to accept the nomination.

At the end of the voting exercise last Monday, Tambuwal polled 252 votes to defeat Akande- Adeola who got 90 votes and accordingly emerge as Speaker.

Armed to the teeth, even the presence of PDP top shots did not deter the nomination of Tambuwal and when voting began after Mulikat was also nominated, PDP”s sermon on respect for party supremacy was obviously ignored despite the presence of the party leaders who were present to enforce party discipline.

What happened on the floor of the House is now history, the memories of the event will forever linger, a day the members took their destinies in their hands and finally killed zoning, that the best and the most acceptable one must not necessarily come from where the position is zoned to, it is equally an eye opener for the PDP that it is only change that is permanent. We watch as events unfold to know if there is still zoning in PDP.