Nigeria’s House of Representatives has voted against a proposed constitutional amendment that sought to rotate the offices of the President and Vice President among the country’s six geopolitical zones.
The bill, sponsored by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Okezie Kalu, aimed to promote inclusiveness by ensuring each region — North Central, North East, North West, South East, South South, and South West — has a turn at the highest offices in the land.
Titled *“A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution… to Provide for the Principle of Rotation of the Offices of the President and the Vice President”*, the proposal was one of seven constitutional amendments scheduled for second reading on Tuesday.
The bill sparked intense debate among lawmakers.
Opposing the motion, Rep Aliyu Madaki (NNPP, Kano) argued that the idea was already captured under Nigeria’s federal character principle and that political parties — not the constitution — should decide on zoning arrangements.
However, Rep Ali Isah (PDP, Gombe) supported the bill, saying that formalising rotational leadership would promote fairness and a sense of belonging across all regions.
Another lawmaker, Rep Sada Soli (APC, Katsina), warned that such an amendment could hurt national unity. He said it would prioritise regional interests over merit and lead to mediocrity. “It will limit the pool of candidates and encourage ethnic and regional rivalry,” he said.
In response, Deputy Speaker Kalu defended the bill, insisting that all parts of Nigeria have qualified leaders. “This bill is about giving every region a chance to contribute to Nigeria’s development,” he said.
Other lawmakers, including Rep Shina Oyedeji and Rep Bello El-Rufai, also opposed the proposal, arguing that democracy thrives on open competition and that zoning could inflame ethnic divisions.
Following the debate, the Deputy Speaker put the bill to a voice vote. The majority of lawmakers voted “no,” leading to its rejection.
This decision means the proposed constitutional amendment will not move forward at this stage.