---Calls for inclusivity derailed as constitution amendment fails at second reading
In a dramatic and politically charged session at the National Assembly, the House of Representatives on Monday rejected a bill that sought to amend the Constitution to provide for a rotational presidency among Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
The Constitution Alteration Bill, one of seven presented simultaneously for second reading, failed to secure enough support in a voice vote. The result was a major blow to advocates of political restructuring, who have long argued that zoning the presidency could stabilize Nigeria’s fragile unity and address decades of regional imbalance.
A Nation at a Crossroads
The rejected bill proposed that the office of the president rotate equitably among the North Central, North East, North West, South East, South South, and South West zones. Supporters described it as a constitutional correction to long-standing marginalization and a pathway to national healing.
"The purpose of this bill is not to divide Nigeria but to build it," argued Rep. Chuka Udeh (PDP, Anambra), one of the bill’s co-sponsors. "If we must sustain peace, equity in leadership must be enshrined in our supreme law."
However, detractors claimed the measure risked institutionalizing division, reducing presidential elections to a rotational ritual rather than a democratic contest rooted in merit and popular choice.
"Let the best man or woman emerge, regardless of region," said Rep. Musa Dantata (APC, Kano). "That is what democracy demands, not an ethnic turn-by-turn presidency."
Political Context: Why This Moment Matters
Nigeria’s 25-year experiment with democratic governance since 1999 has been riddled with regional distrust. Though informal zoning agreements have shaped the rotation of power between the North and South, they remain party-level arrangements—not binding law.
The South East remains the only zone yet to produce a president under the current republic, a fact that has fueled agitation, particularly among Igbo nationalists and proponents of secessionist movements like IPOB.
Monday’s vote was viewed by many as a test of the political class’s willingness to institutionalize fairness through legal reform. Its failure is likely to reignite conversations about equity, federalism, and the unfinished business of constitutional restructuring.
Analysis: What This Means for 2027
With the 2027 general elections looming, political calculations are already underway. Analysts believe the rejection of the zoning bill could tilt political parties back toward internal zoning mechanisms to manage rising regional demands and avoid voter backlash.
Dr. Amina Lawal, a political scientist at Ahmadu Bello University, warns of consequences if national sentiment is ignored.
"The rejection of this bill, while constitutional, sends a dangerous signal. If the center cannot provide a sense of inclusion, the peripheries may begin to seek alternatives," she said.
Others argue that the onus now falls on political parties—not the Constitution—to guarantee fairness in leadership rotation.
Civil Society Reacts: Between Disappointment and Defiance
Across the country, civil society groups expressed disappointment, but vowed to continue pressing for equitable reforms.
"This is a setback, not a defeat," said Samson Itodo of Yiaga Africa. "Structural reform must remain on the agenda if Nigeria is to survive its own contradictions."
Human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) described the bill’s rejection as “shortsighted” and accused lawmakers of prioritizing politics over nation-building.
Conclusion: A Mirror to Nigeria’s Political Fault Lines
The rejection of the rotational presidency bill reflects more than a legislative decision—it exposes the enduring fractures in Nigeria’s political architecture. While democratic processes triumphed procedurally, questions about fairness, equity, and national unity remain unresolved.
As the political class prepares for the next electoral cycle, the voices demanding inclusion, balance, and justice are unlikely to be silenced by a single vote. Instead, Monday’s outcome may just be the opening salvo in a much larger debate over the soul of Nigeria’s democracy.
FACT BOX: What Are Nigeria’s Six Geopolitical Zones?
North West
North East
North Central
South West
South East
South South
These zones, while not constitutionally recognized, have formed the basis for administrative, political, and resource-sharing formulas in Nigeria’s federal system.
