The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has laid to rest the controversy trailing the zoning of nation's plum political offices.
At a meeting of its expanded caucus at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, The Guardian learnt that it was agreed that in the interest of consolidation of democracy and the strengthening of the legislature, the position of Senate President should still be in the North Central with Senator David Mark tipped to retain the office.
Also, the caucus agreed that the position of Speaker should still go to the South West.
But the leadership of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has joined in the demand by the South East zone for the office of the Speaker of House of Representatives in the Seventh National Assembly.
APGA National Chairman, Sir Victor Umeh, told reporters in Abuja yesterday that he would take off to the United Kingdom today to brief the party's founder, ailing Ikemba of Nnewi, Chief Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, to seek his intervention "so that even if it means writing a letter of protest to the President, we will make him to do it."
Umeh urged President Goodluck Jonathan, who is leader of the ruling Peoples Democratic party (PDP) to insist that equity and fairness come into play whenever the party decides finally to zone critical positions in the National Assembly.
Among other decisions taken at the PDP meeting, according to party sources, was that the position of its national chairman should be given to the North East but the Acting Chairman, Dr. Bello Haliru Mohammed would be allowed to continue in office till next year when a new chairman will be elected at the national convention.
What was not clear at the parley was the issue of Deputy Senate President but The Guardian learnt that there was an understanding that since the position of the Senate President is retained by the North Central, the South East should still have it in addition to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).
The North East, according to sources, will also produce the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, a position currently held by Bayero Nafada from Gombe State. The position of the Leader of the House of Representatives will still be retained by the South-South, according to the meeting.
The position taken by the meeting was based on the input of the governors on the platform of the party from the North. It would be recalled that the governors met last Tuesday where they took a position, which the chairman of the forum and governor of Niger State, Alhaji Babangida Aliyu, presented to the caucus at the Aso Rock Villa meeting and it was adopted.
It was also learnt that the party will communicate its position to all lawmakers elected on its platform before the inauguration of the Seventh National Assembly in June so that there would be no rancour in the process of electing the presiding and principal officers of the Senate and the Lower House.
PDP National Publicity Secretary, Prof. Rufai Ahmed Alkali, denied knowledge of the arrangement but said; ''All I can assure you is that the party will come up with a position that will not only satisfy our members but will also stabilise the polity.''
Justifying the demand for the Speakership slot for the South East, Umeh said the zone gave the President the highest number of votes during the April 26 presidential election and "we believe the only way to reward the zone is to ensure that we get what is duly meant for us".
Source: PDP retains zoning of political offices (http://guardiannewsngr.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=47714:pdp-retains-zoning-of-political-offices&catid=1:national&Itemid=559)