The House of Representatives on Tuesday rejected a constitutional amendment bill proposing the rotation of the offices of President and Vice President among Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
The bill, one of seven constitutional alteration proposals slated for debate, failed to gain traction as lawmakers expressed overwhelming opposition during the plenary session. Despite the setback, the House resolved to revisit the bills individually on Wednesday, considering them on their individual merits.
At the start of the session, the House had suspended its usual rules to allow for simultaneous debate on all seven constitutional amendment bills, giving members the freedom to pick any bill of interest for deliberation.
However, the proposed presidential rotation bill drew the most attention, sparking fierce debate. Opponents argued that enshrining such a provision in the constitution could pose long-term risks to Nigeria’s unity and democratic flexibility.
Leading the opposition, Deputy Minority Leader Aliyu Madaki warned against legislating rotation into law, insisting that the Federal Character Commission already addresses equitable representation across regions.
