North East’s scramble for National Assembly positions
There are six states that make up the zone; namely, Adamawa; Bauchi; Borno; Gombe; Taraba and Yobe.These six states can further be grouped into three: Bauchi/Gombe; Borno/Yobe and Adamawa/Taraba. As such, the political aspiration of one state affects the other, directly or indirectly. While waiting for the formalisation of the zoning formula, the lawmakers from […]
There are six states that make up the zone; namely, Adamawa; Bauchi; Borno; Gombe; Taraba and Yobe.
These six states can further be grouped into three: Bauchi/Gombe; Borno/Yobe and Adamawa/Taraba. As such, the political aspiration of one state affects the other, directly or indirectly. While waiting for the formalisation of the zoning formula, the lawmakers from the North East currently are engaged in political calculations as to who or which group of states gets what position.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar being the most senior stalwart of the party from that region automatically takes the APC BoT chair. And since he is from Adamawa as does Senator-elect Binta Masi Garba, who is reported to be eyeing the Deputy Senate Presidency, it means that Atiku’s BoT slot knocks out Binta’s aspiration. However, if Atiku does not go for the party’s BoT, Binta would be in strong contention, on the ground that she is a third-time member of House of Representatives. Taraba State, on the other hand, did not produce any APC senator in the just concluded National Assembly elections.
Again, Bauchi and Gombe states, both have formidable contenders like Senators Nazi Suleiman Gamawa and Danjuma Goje, respectively. They are both ranking senators and are both arguably qualified for the position of the Deputy Senate President. But besides Adamawa, no other state in the North East has given the APC the overwhelming support Bauchi has given it, as evident in the results of the 2015 general elections from the state. While Bauchi delivered over 1.3 million votes to the APC in the presidential election and won the state governorship election, the APC in Gombe could not give the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) a strong fight and failed woefully to deliver in both the presidential and the governorship elections. Even with strong PDP forces like Governor Isa Yuguda; PDP National Chairman, Adamu Mu’azu; the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Mohammed and the TeTFund chairman, Dr Musa Babayo, the APC in the state were able to deliver the state and the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.
Bauchi, having washed its hands clean as reflected by results of the 2015 general elections, deserves a place of honour and should be given the position of Deputy Senator President. And if this happens, Senator Nazif Suleiman Gamawa stands out tall among the other contenders. Nazif was first elected Senator representing Bauchi North in the National Assembly in 2007 on the platform of the Action Congress (AC), until 2011, when he vied for the seat of the governor. He was also member of the House of Representatives, between 2003 and 2007. Nazif is intelligent and has tremendous network through which he gets things done.
The other contending states from the North East are Borno and Yobe. Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume who is returning as senator representing Borno South senatorial district for the second time is keen on clinching the position of Deputy Senate President.
Senator Ndume, however, believes Borno State in particular is most suited for the position of Deputy Senate President because it has suffered years of marginalisation. According to him, representatives from the state have never been considered for positions in the National Assembly since 1999. Yet, some analysts believe Senator Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan is a better candidate compared with Ndume.
Ibrahim Sani, Gombe