No consensus on zoning presidency yet in Nigeria

A presidential bid by Jonathan in 2011 may alter an unwritten agreement which has not been observed in the ruling People’s Democratic Party, even though it dictates that the presidency should rotate between the South and north.

The so-called "zoning agreement" is supposed to avoid a build-up of political resentment by rotating the presidency between the two main regions in Africa's most populous nation every two terms.

But Jonathan took over as head of state earlier this year after the death of northern President Umaru Yar'Adua part way through his first term in office.

Jonathan's supporters and some northerners have said the zoning agreement should be jettisoned and he should be allowed to run in 2011, but the endorsement of the northern governors will be key if he is to carry the ruling party with him.

A small group of protesters from a northern youth movement waved placards outside the state government headquarters ahead of the meeting, urging the governors to uphold the zoning agreement and not back Jonathan, but torrential rain and a heavy security presence dispersed them peacefully.

  In a communiqué read to journalists by the chairman of the forum and the Niger State governor, Mua'zu Babangida Aliyu "The forum noted that the desired wider consultations with stakeholders had taken place and various positions had been taken by respective states. The Northern Governors' Forum, after collating the reports from all the 19 northern states, and after exhaustive deliberations, recognises the following:

"The supremacy of the 1999 constitution as encapsulated in section 1.

"The provision of section 131 of the 1999 constitution, which states the qualification of the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

"Arising from the above, therefore, the forum acknowledges the right of President Goodluck Jonathan and indeed any other Nigerian to legitimately and constitutionally contest for the office of the president.

"On zoning, the forum recognises the issue of zoning is a PDP affair, as contained in section 7(2c) of the party constitution.

"Therefore, in acknowledging the circumstances of the demise of late President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, and the subsequent ascendency of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to the presidency, the forum resolves that wider consultations should continue at all party levels within the PDP, with all stakeholders across the nation to address the concerns of all in the interest of peaceful co-existence and advancement of democracy in our dear country, Nigeria."