Meanwhile, the lawmakers have said that they would respect the decision of the APC; but they urged party to consider the zone.

Speaking at a briefing on Tuesday, Rep John Dyegh, APC, Benue convener of the caucus group and lawmakers across party lines said:

“With a comfortable representation from our zone, we deserve the position of the speaker as both the North West and South West zones have been comfortably settled via the position of President and Vice President.”

“Zoning the position of the speaker to the North Central will satisfy and advance the cause of equity.”

“We note that apart from the North West and North East, the North Central zone delivered handsomely for the party in the general election and as such needs to be rewarded for the hard work and loyalty.

“The need to ensure balance and spread between and among the six geo-political zones has made it imperative to give prime consideration to the North Central zone to produce the position of speaker.”

The zone is in a peculiar and delicate location and challenges within the federation, it’s of utmost importance to carry us along in the hierarchy of power distribution in the country as this will in no small measure help in stabilising the polity.

He explained that “it’s not by coincidence that the Nigerian constitution enshrines federal character in the distribution of offices and leadership positions in the country.”

The North Central will feel a sense of belonging if it’s allowed to produce the speaker in the next Assembly.