A plan to amend the 1999 constitution to create a system of rotating the president and vice president’s positions across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones was rejected by the House of Representatives.
“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” was the title of the proposal, which was introduced by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Okezie Kalu, according to reports.
On Tuesday, May 13, 2025, a second reading of the House Order Paper was planned for seven constitutional amendment proposals, including this measure.
The Deputy Speaker, who was presiding over the session, requested parliamentarians to express their opinions on the measures after the House Leader announced their titles.
Rep. Aliyu Madaki (NNPP, Kano) voiced his opposition to the bill during the discussion, claiming that the issues it sought to address were already addressed by the current constitutional principle of federal character.
He argued against the need to include such a clause in the constitution, claiming that the choice over the presidential zoning should be left to individual political parties.
Rep. Ali Isah (PDP, Gombe), on the other hand, disagreed with Madaki’s position and said that a constitution that included rotating presidency would encourage inclusivity and justice for all geographical zones.
The proposed legislation, according to Rep. Sada Soli (APC, Katsina), would be harmful to national unity and could lead to the prioritization of mediocrity above ability in leadership.
It might prioritize ethnic and regional interests over competence. It will promote regional rivalry and a narrower pool of candidates for office, undermining the sense of unity, Soli stated.
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Kalu responded to Soli’s position by rejecting the idea of encouraging mediocrity and claiming that there are qualified candidates for president and vice president in each of the country’s geopolitical zones.
He emphasized that the goal of the measure is to ensure that every region of the nation may take part in national development and governance. Rep. Shina Oyedeji voiced his opposition to the bill, claiming that strong competition is essential to democracy.
“Everyone should have the opportunity to run for election whenever possible,” he argued, arguing that zoning and regional feelings are undermined democratic values.
The bill was also opposed by Representative Bello El-Rufai (APC, Kaduna), who cautioned that because of the nation’s unique ethnic terrain, instituting the rotating presidency principle in the constitution could exacerbate regional and ethnic tensions.
The Deputy Speaker called for a voice vote after heated debates on the bill, and the majority of parliamentarians responded with “nays.” Later, the Deputy Speaker made a decision that supported the nays.
