The agreement would be tabled before the delegates on Monday for adoption.
Members of the Consensus Group set up by the Chairman of the National Conference, Idris Kutigi, to resolve the voting procedure stalemate, have agreed that a 70 per cent voting procedure be used in reaching major decisions at the ongoing confab.
A stalemate had ensued when delegates failed to agree on a voting procedure to be adopted in reaching decisions at the Conference on Monday.
Order 6, Rule 3 of the Conference Rules provides that decisions shall be decided by at least a three-quarter majority.
It reads: “Any questions proposed for decision in the Conference shall be determined by consensus and when this is not achievable, it should be determined by a three-quarter majority of the delegates present and voting.”
While delegates from the Southern part of the country argued for a two-third majority voting procedure, majority of the Northern counterparts routed for three-quarter or 75 per cent which translates to 369 delegates.
For three consecutive sittings, the leadership could not bring the delegates to adopt the Conference’s draft Rules, a situation which resulted in a stalemate and subsequent adjournment of plenary sitting.
As part of measures to resolve the crisis, the Chairman, Idris Kutigi on Wednesday selected 50 delegates including leaders of various delegations and interest groups to meet with the leadership and discuss the issue.
The group met twice on Wednesday, and met again on Thursday and on Friday during which parties to the dispute openly tabled their fears and concerns.
PREMIUM TIMES learnt that after extensive debates and consultations, the group agreed to adopt a voting formula which is altogether different from the positions taken by the opposing parties.
A source within the group told PREMIUM TIMES that the 70 per cent voting procedure was adopted because it is at the midpoint between two-third (67 per cent) and 75 per cent supported by the Southern and Northern delegates, respectively.
“We discussed extensively and dispassionately on all the fears and concerns expressed by every group and interest and tried to take a decision that would favour all the parties concerned.
“We, therefore, decided that 70 per cent of members would be needed to take major decisions at the Conference. In taking that decision, we wanted to achieve a win-win situation for all.
“I know that delegates may still disagree on the decision we have taken but we consider that the best under the situation we have found ourselves in the country.”
The Assistant Secretary, Media and Communications, Akpandem James, on Friday confirmed that an agreement had been reached on the voting procedure to be used at the Conference.
Mr. James, who did not state the agreement, also maintained that the agreement would be tabled before the delegates on Monday for adoption.
He said, “The disagreement will not affect resumption of plenary on Monday because it has been resolved. The 50-man consensus group met with the principal officers on Wednesday and Thursday and a consensus has been reached. It is still a proposal.
“The consensus delegates have gone back to delegates from their various geo-political zones to present to them the consensus that was reached. The consensus will be presented to the house on March 31 for the delegates to adopt. Until it is adopted by the larger house, an agreement has not been reached.”
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