The House of Representatives on Tuesday declined several bills, including the passage of a constitutional amendment bill that proposed rotating the offices of the President and Vice President among Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
The bill, which sparked considerable debate among lawmakers, failed to move beyond the second reading stage.
In addition to the rotational presidency proposal, six other constitution alteration bills listed on the Order Paper were also rejected. However, the House resolved to revisit each bill individually on Wednesday for reconsideration based on its specific merits.
Other bills rejected include: Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to remove from Independent National Electoral Commission, the Powers of Registration and Regulation of political Parties in Nigeria and Transfer same to the Office of the Registrar General of Political Parties, and 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.
Also included are bills 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 Establishment, Independence, and Functions of the Office of the State Auditors-General for Local Governments and the Federal Capital Territory Area Councils, to Strengthen Fiscal Oversight, Promote Accountability and enhance Good Governance at the Grassroots and a bill for an Act to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Create Ughelli East Local Government Area in Delta State.
The House temporarily suspended its standing rules to allow for simultaneous debate on all seven amendment bills. Members were free to choose any of the listed bills to contribute to during the session.
The bill proposing the rotation of executive leadership between geopolitical zones attracted the most attention and controversy. Many lawmakers spoke against it, warning that enshrining such a provision in the Constitution could lead to unintended political and social consequences.
Deputy Minority Leader, Hon. Aliyu Madaki, was at the forefront of the opposition. He argued that issues of equitable representation were already being addressed through the Federal Character Commission and internal mechanisms within political parties. According to him, forcing zoning into the Constitution would unnecessarily politicise national unity.
Similarly, Hon. Sada Soli (APC, Katsina) described the bill as “well-meaning but flawed,” warning that it could compromise the quality of leadership by prioritising regional turn-taking over merit. He emphasised that governance should focus on competence, not geography.
