The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) may zone the Senate presidency to the South East as the race for leadership of the 10th National Assembly heats up. The move, according to reports, is intended to placate the zone.
Those looking at the seat incorporate, Congresspersons Orji Uzor Kalu, Osita Izunaso, Jibrin Barau, Sani Musa, Godswill Akpabio and Ali Ndume. Former Zamfara State governor Abdulaziz Yari (APC, Zamfara West), outgoing Ebonyi State governor David Umahi (APC, Ebonyi South), and former Edo State governor Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North) are also rumored to be on the list in violation of the ranking rule.
In the events leading up to the inauguration of the next Assembly in June, it is unclear which of the zone legislators would receive the endorsement of President-elect Bola Tinubu and the party.
There are rumors that Akpabio is already looking into the possibility of accepting a ministerial position. Instead of the coveted Senate presidency, he is thought to be vying for the Petroleum or Niger Delta ministerial positions.
A source stated: Since then, Akpabio has begun contacting Bola Tinubu personally and through his allies to ask him to return to any of the top ministries—which appear to be more favorable to the former two-term governor than the Senate president position—in order to avoid losing out.
He is aware that his chances are extremely slim. The President-elect and our party are committed to forming a government of national unity and settling tensions in the country’s geopolitical zones, starting with the Southeast by giving them the chance to elect the next Senate President.
This occurs at a time when the ruling party is said to be considering the North West and Central for the position of Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Ahmed Idris Wase, Makki Yalleman, Adamu Yusuf Gagdi, Benjamin Kalu, Peter Akpatason, Muktar Aliyu Betara, Sada Soli Jibia, Tunji Olawuyi, Abbas Tajuddeen, and Aminu Sani Jaji are all currently serving as Deputy Speaker.
The meeting between Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila and some of the candidates, during which it was said that the question of whether he has a preferred candidate was discussed, is the backdrop for the speculation.
A trusted source stated: Contrary to what is being claimed, the Speaker did not call us to solicit resignations. First, there are allegations that he is supporting a single candidate.
“He called that meeting first to find out how we are campaigning as individuals and whether we have issues among the candidates, which we said no to. He wanted to know how we were doing. There is nothing wrong with us.
“Then, some of the candidates complained that the Speaker’s boys were using his name as an aspirant and that the Speaker had asked them to run for him. What’s more, it has started to make worry and strain.
“As a result, a few individuals made that observation in order for Speaker to draw the attention of one of his staff members who is presenting himself as being instructed by Mr. Speaker to support one candidate. That was resolved.
Second, the Speaker emphasized to us that he is a partyman and has never been anti-party in his capacity as Speaker. As a result, he assured us that whenever the party zones, he will support the zone it zoned to. This is the main thing that occurred. Therefore, no one who tells you anything other than that is honest.