Bill Seeking Rotation of President, Vice Among Geopolitical Zones Rejected By House of Reps

A constitutional amendment bill proposing the rotation of the offices of President and Vice President among Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones was rejected by members of the House of Representatives on Tuesday.

The bill was one of seven constitutional alteration bills listed for consideration.

While the House initially resolved to debate the bills simultaneously, allowing members to choose which to focus on, the rotational presidency bill drew significant attention and ultimately faced strong opposition.

Many lawmakers voiced their concerns against enshrining the principle of rotation in the constitution, cautioning against the potential for setting a problematic precedent.

Leading the opposition, Deputy Minority Leader, Aliyu Sani Madaki, argued that the issues the bill aimed to address were already within the purview of the Federal Character Commission.

He warned against constitutionalizing rotation, advocating for the current practice to remain.

Despite the rejection of this and six other constitutional alteration bills, the House resolved to revisit the matters on Wednesday.

The bills will be brought back for consideration based on their individual merits.