…says will contest position

The South-East Caucus is kicking against the nomination of Godswill Akpabio, a former minister of Niger Delta affairs, as president of the Senate by the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Ifeanyi Ubah, Senator representing Anambra South, says the South-East Caucus was not consulted in the move.

Speaking on Monday in an interview with Channels Television, Ubah said the SouthEast would contest the position of the next Senate President, despite APC’s zoning.

The ruling party also chose Abbas Tajudeen, a ranking member of the House of Representatives, as speaker.

The APC determines the presiding officers of the national assembly because it has majority members.

In a statement on Monday, Felix Morka, APC spokesperson, said the party also nominated Barau Jibrin, senator representing Kano north, as Deputy Senate President, and Benjamin Kalu, current House spokesperson, as Deputy Speaker.

“The national working committee of the APC met today, Monday, May 8, 2023, to consider reports of consultations and meetings held with the president-elect, His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, other party leaders and stakeholders on zoning arrangements for 10th National Assembly leadership positions,” Morka said.

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“The NWC noted with respect to the outcome of the meetings held between the president-elect and the leadership of the NWC.

“The NWC called for further and better consultation with necessary stakeholders in order to assure the support of the aspirants to the national assembly leadership positions and members of the party nationwide.”

In his complaints Ifeanyi Uba said that there are capable senators-elect from the South-East who can steer the affairs of the Tenth National Assembly.

“For me and our people from the South-East, we are still very strong in contesting for the office of the Senate President of Nigeria for the Tenth Senate. That is our position for now,” he said.

“So, in the course of consultation, we would continue to update Nigerians about our position.

“But for now, I am still in this studio, the position of the South-East Caucus is that we are going to contest for the office of the Tenth Senate President of Nigeria.

“The Senate President should be zoned to the South-East or fairly zoned to the south.