BREAKING: Reps Dismiss Bill Seeking Rotational Presidency System

The 1999 constitution would have been amended to create a rotating system for the president and vice president’s positions across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, however the House of Representatives voted against the plan.

According to reports, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Okezie Kalu introduced the proposal, which was named “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” (HB. 2291).

On the House Order Paper, this bill was one of seven proposed constitutional amendments that were set for a second reading on Tuesday, May 13, 2025.

The House Leader read the legislation’ titles, and then the Deputy Speaker, who was chairing the session, asked the members to comment on the ideas.

The bill was opposed by Representative Aliyu Madaki (NNPP, Kano) during the discussion, who claimed that the issues it sought to address were adequately addressed by the current constitutional principle of federal character.

He argued that there was no need to include such a clause in the constitution and that the choice of where to locate the president should be left to individual political parties.

Rep. Ali Isah (PDP, Gombe) disagreed with Madaki’s position, arguing that changing the constitution to include rotating presidency will make all geographic zones more equitable and inclusive.

Rep. Sada Soli of the APC in Katsina, meantime, also rejected the bill, claiming that it would undermine national unity and could lead to mediocrity being valued more highly than leadership ability.

Ethnic and regional interests could be prioritized over competence. According to Soli, it will promote regional rivalry and a narrow selection of candidates for office, undermining the spirit of oneness.

In response to Soli’s position, Kalu argued that each geopolitical region in the country has competent people who are qualified to serve as president and vice president, rejecting the idea of encouraging mediocrity.

The goal of the measure, he emphasized, is to ensure that every region of the nation may take part in national growth and rule. The law was opposed by Representative Shina Oyedeji, who stated that vigorous competition is the foundation of democracy.

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“Everyone should have the opportunity to run for election whenever possible,” he argued, challenging democratic norms by adding zoning and regional feelings.

Rep. Bello El-Rufai (APC, Kaduna) also opposed the bill, stating that because of the nation’s unique ethnic terrain, instituting the rotating presidency principle in the constitution could exacerbate regional and ethnic tensions.

The majority of parliamentarians voiced their opposition to the bill with “nays” after the Deputy Speaker called for a voice vote after heated debates. A later decision by the Deputy Speaker favored the nays.