Agbakoba clears air on zoning, federal character

Senior Advocate of Nigeria and leading human rights activist, Mr. Olisa Agbakoba, has cleared the air on zoning as adopted by the ruling People Democratic Party (PDP).

In a press statement made available yesterday, entitled Clearing Up Misconceptions About Constitutional Zoning and Power Rotation, the activist said while Federal Character is constitutional meant to ensure the unity of the people, the PDP zoning formula is not constitution but an internal party arrangement and that its abolishment by the party dos not affect the federal character principle.

Agbakoba

“Now to the point about the misconception about zoning and power rotation. The debate about zoning the presidency either to the South-South or the North within the People Democratic Party is not the concept of zoning referred to in the Constitution. PDP is not one of the entities described in the context of the federal character principle contained in Section 14 of the Constitution.

Zoning in the PDP is about the notion of power rotation between north and the south according to the rules of the party.  The PDP abolishing zoning or power rotation should have no impact on the Federal character principle laid out in the Constitution.  It is very important to keep this in mind as it would appear that if the PDP abolishes power rotation, it necessarily means that the Constitutional prescription of zoning is also affected.

What the PDP decides to make of their principle of power rotation between north and south is an internal affair of the party. It would not affect the constitutional prescription of inclusion and participation in the affairs of government by Nigerians from all the zones as this has helped to keep Nigeria together,” the statement said.