With more than 12 months ahead of the inauguration of a new administration, current governors elected on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have commenced covert moves to alter the existing power sharing formula in the party in 2027. The current power sharing arrangement embedded in a zoning framework ensures that each of the six geopolitical zones occupies at least, one of the nation’s top 10 positions.

Under the current power sharing structure, the following positions are held by each of the six zones: President (Southwest); Vice President (North East);Senate President (South South); Deputy Senate President(North West); Speaker(North West); Deputy Speaker(South East); Secretary to the Government of the Federation(North Central) and Chairman of the ruling party(North Central).

But a competent source close to the Progressive Governors Forum(PGF) confided in our correspondent that a draft proposal to rejig the existing formula had already been perfected for submission to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. This development unfolded as reports indicate a fresh tension in Ondo State as intrigues heightened over the battle to replace Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, senator representing Ondo south in the Red Chamber.

He was recently appointed as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations by President Tinubu. But the fresh plot to realign elective and appointive positions, it was gathered, may not be unconnected with quest for the senate presidency by the Imo Governor and chairman of the APC Governors’ Forum, Senator Hope Uzodinma.

The source, who is conversant with the unfolding development, hinted that the draft proposal was to be presented to President Tinubu three weeks ago but for his visit to the United Kingdom. “People are just trying to be mischievous; the governors are fully aligned with the president’s Renewed Hope Agenda and that is why they always initiate moves aimed at protecting him and the system.

“If you recall, when we were ushered in three years ago, there were a lot of issues concerning zoning of offices and positions, especially the top appointment like SGF and even the National Assembly top positions. “But, because there is need to avoid the same controversy, the governors are already working ahead of time, so as to hit the ground running once the elections are over in 2027.

“So, they have come up with a working document like a draft proposal, which clearly spells out where and what to give. This is for balance and equity.” According to him, the draft is a slight difference from what obtains now, which he highlighted as follows: President and Vice president, Speaker are all retained where they are currently while Senate President, Deputy Senate President and Deputy Speaker are rejigged in the new proposal.

The proposal recommends as follows: Senate president(South East); Deputy Senate President (North Central) as well as Deputy Speaker(South South). The source also projected that the next SGF should be appoint- ed from the South South. “Another issue we are facing is a fresh round of tension that is tearing apart the Ondo State chapter of the APC, over who succeeds Senator Ibrahim, who is expected to resign from the senate any moment from now.

You know that state was bloody during the last congresses. “As you know, following his appointment as an envoy, the senator, who represents Ondo South is awaiting accreditation and submission of his letters of credence at the UN in New York to assume duties but we are already having credible feelers that the governor is pushing to field someone from the same federal constituency, which we don’t want to believe because it is odd to contemplate such.

“We are analysing all information and a team will soon be sent there, so that there won’t be backlash because of wrong decisions on the part of anyone. We are aware that a particular ethnic bloc is least populous and that is Ikale where Senator Jimoh comes from.

“And if the Senator has been appointed as an envoy, another Local Government can be considered but not the governors federal constituency because that means one Local Government will have both the senate and House of Representatives slots; and conversely, taking the Reps slot to the governors Local Government will be too glaring an overload as it means both governor and Reps will come from the same Local Government”, he said.

It was learnt that those angling to replace Senator Ibrahim are: Barrister Morayo Lebi (Irele/Okitipupa federal constituency) a former two time member of the House of Representatives; Mayo Akinfolarin, Mathew Oyerinmade, Boye Oyewunmi(the trio from Odigbo/Ileoluji/ Okeigbo federal constituency).

Others include the former deputy governor and governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) in the 2024 election, Hon Agboola Ajayi, as well as the newly re-elected National Vice chairman(South West) of the APC, Dr Isaac Kekemeke, who both hail from same Ilaje/Ese-odo federal constituency as Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.