The All Progressives Congress (APC) has once again deferred action on the issue of zoning of principal offices in the incoming government till after Friday's inauguration of President-elect Muhammadu Buhari.

Just like it did shortly after the elections during the heat of the controversy over zoning of posts, the party yesterday issued a statement denying that it had zoned the Senate Presidency and the office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives to any zone.

However, the horse-trading for the prized office of the Speakership of the lower chamber of the National Assembly has continued unabated with one of the contenders, Hon. Mohammed Tahir Mongonu, (APC, Bornu) yesterday announcing that he has withdrawn for Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila.

In a statement by APC's National Secretary, Hon. Mai Mala Buni, the party said its National Working Committee (NWC) never discussed the issue of zoning when it met on Monday night.

Buni also denied that the NWC had decided to zone the Senate Presidency to the North-central and the Speaker of the House of Representatives to the South-west, saying nothing to that effect ever happened.

He said the party was deeply embarrassed by a report which was apparently planted in the media to sow the seeds of instability in the party.

"The NWC never discussed the issue of zoning at its meeting. Therefore the report of its decision on zoning is a figment of the imagination of whoever concocted the story," it said.

He said as far as the party was concerned nothing had changed since the president-elect said he was ready to work with anyone from any part of the country who occupies any of the principal offices of the incoming National Assembly, including those of the Senate Presidency and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Also while backing the party's position, the National Vice Chairman of APC, Mr. Bachir David. Lawal, said the issue of zoning was not part of its meeting, adding that the leadership of APC has suspended it for now to allow for further consultations.

"I was at last Monday's meeting of the NWC and the issue of the Senate Presidency was not on the agenda. Zoning never came up in any form or shape during the meeting, which had only one item agenda - the inauguration. No other issue came up. I therefore rebuff the news report as totally false and mischievous," he said.

However, as the APC's explanation put paid to speculations on the issue of zoning by the party, one of the aspirant to the Speakership position, Hon. Mongonu has pulled from the contest and declared his interest in the post of Deputy Speaker.

Addressing journalists at the venue of the retreat organised for newly elected APC members of the House, Mongonu said he would now team up with Gbajabiamila to ensure victory for their joint ticket.

Giving reasons for stepping down for Gbajabiamila, the lawmaker said convention in most representative democracies the world over shows that having served as minority leader you ascend to the speakership position should your party gain the majority.

"After broad consultations and thoughtful consideration, I have decided not to run for the office of the Speaker in the 8th Assembly. Instead, I give my full endorsement to my friend and colleague, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, who I believe has the requisite qualification to lead the 8th Assembly in the onerous task of addressing the important and pressing needs of the citizens of this nation.

"I will instead be running for the Deputy Speaker position on a joint ticket with Hon. Gbajabiamila.

"I am withdrawing from the race for two reasons: first, is to ensure party cohesion. As leaders of our great party we can ill-afford to have a divided House if we are to deliver on the much-needed change we promised Nigerians in the course of the campaign; and second, Femi stands tall amongst our peers in terms of experience and understanding of the contours and nuances of the legislative process.

"The reason is simple: managing the complexities and subtleties of the legislative process is serious business. It cannot be left in the hands of anyone who desires to learn on the job!

"Over the years, I have come to know Femi as an exceptionally effective legislator. He leads by building consensus, listening to good ideas and putting the nation first. His outright rejection of a national award on principle, tells you all you need to know about his character.

"As our chamber's next Speaker, Femi will re-energise our institution by building the capacity we need to make our role in government more effective and more accountable to the voters," he said.

In a related development, the former Governor of Kwara State, Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki has officially emerged a sole candidate of the North-central geopolitical zone in the race for the Senate presidency. APC in the zone, which announced the chairman of Senate Committee on Environment as its sole candidate, said that the choice of Saraki followed the withdrawal of another contestant from the zone, Senator George Akume to run for the post of deputy senate president.

In a communiqué at the end of a crucial meeting of APC chairmen in the zone held in Abuja, the zone resolved and unanimously declared it was only interested in the Office of the Senate President which allegedly had earlier been zoned to it by the National Working Committee of the party.

The communiqué dated May 25, 2015 was signed by Hon. Letep M. Dabang, Chairman of APC in Plateau State; Alhaji Haddy A. Ametuo Chairman, Kogi State; Hon. Philips Shekwo Chairman, Nasarawa State; Alhaji Usman Malik Chairman FCT; Mr. Jibrin Imam Mohammed Chairman, Niger State; and Hon. Ishola Balogun Fulani Chairman, Kwara State.

The communique said sequel to the personal decision of one of the contenders from the zone that he had withdrawn his aspiration and interest from contesting for the post of Senate President of the 8th Senate, they were left with no other obvious option than endorsing Senator Saraki as the sole candidate from the zone to be presented to the leadership of the party for the position of Senate President of the 8th Assembly.

It said the endorsement of Senator Saraki was borne out of his "unprecedented commitment to the growth and success of the party at all levels in the zone and across the country, Saraki's commitment, sacrifices, sincerity and purposeful leadership that ensured the success of all the Senators, House of Representatives members, House of Assembly members as well as gubernatorial candidates in the affected states within the zone".

The communique read in part; "That we are resolute in our collective decision to produce a single candidate from the zone to the office of the Senate presidency and we abide with same considering the fact that all our distinguished senators from the zone had equally maintained a similar position in their earlier meetings."

They vehemently opposed any alliance, horse-trading and fixing of positions in a way that may sabotage the official position of the APC North-central zone, as such step runs contrary to the interest and yearnings of the people, APC members and the zone on a larger scale.

"As the party leaders in our various states, we hereby unequivocally say that our people unanimously give their support to Saraki's Senate presidency without an iota of doubt in his ability to make the zone and Nigeria proud in the no distant future, just as he had delivered in other endeavors he has been involved in the past," the APC North-central leaders said

"Also, we solicit the support of all elected Senators and House of Representatives members from other geopolitical zones to give their total support to this great son of Nigeria who has distinguished himself in a similar responsibility in the recent past and they should be rest assured that he will not disappoint them.

"It is our candid belief that his leadership would not only provide for an open door Senate presidency and all inclusive administration but he will also be a good ambassador of our dear country that we shall be proud of," they added.