Godswill Akpabio and Orji Uzor Kalu in fierce two-horse race to become next senate president

SENATORS Godswill Akpabio and Orji Uzor Kalu have become locked in a fierce two-horse race to become Nigeria's next senate president with both of them desperately seeking the endorsement of president-elect Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

With Asiwaju Bola Tinubu from the southwest elected as president and Senator Kashim Shettima from the northeast elected as vice president, the race for the senate president is open to candidates from all of the other four geo-political zones. Ranking senators from the northwest, south-south, southeast and north central geo-political zones are already positioning themselves for the coveted position, three months before elections are due.

However, over the last week, Senator Akpabio representing the Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District and Senator Kalu of Abia North Senatorial District have pulled way ahead of the rest of the field. Since Asiwaju Tinubu has returned from holiday in France, they have both stepped up pressure on him asking for his anointing.

It may well now come down to which zone the All Progressives Congress (APC) offers the position to. If it goes to the southeast geo-political zone, Senator Kalu will almost certainly get it but if it goes to the south-south geo-political zone, then Senator Akpabio looks set to become the next senate president.

Senator Kalu, the senate's current chief whip, said: “I will like the party to zone it to my area, to my village in Igbere because the president-elect needs people of high character to work for the masses and make laws that will enable him turn around the economy.”

However, Senator Akpabio is attracting support of many party leaders because of his swift withdrawal from the race for the presidential ticket during the APC primaries. Also, a group of serving and former members of the National Assembly, led by Hon Eseme Eyiboh, have stated that the president of the 10th senate should emerge from the south-south because the southeast had produced five senate presidents in the past.

Also, the group contended that the south-south gave the APC more votes than the southeast in the February 25 presidential election. According to Hon Eyiboh, the larger consideration should be the emergence of a senate president and leadership that will engage the executive on developmental issues.

On the need for APC to nominate Senator Akpabio, the group said the work done by the former Akwa Ibom State governor, as well as his contributions as the minister for Niger Delta Affairs, should be considered. Also, the group made a case for a National Assembly leadership that will not engage in unnecessary warfare with the executive arm of government.

Meanwhile, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, the speaker of the House of Representatives, has pledged to adhere to the zoning formula of the APC for electing presiding officers of the House. He denied reports in a section of the media that he has a preferred candidate among those jostling to succeed him.

Hon Gbajabiamila said: “I have not declared support for any of my colleagues who have declared their interest. I have made my position clear that there is a need to wait for the party to complete its zoning exercise as I cannot work against my party’s interest and position.

“I am a product of APC’s zoning in 2019 and I shall adhere to that any time the party comes up with its arrangement. Anyone or media outlet peddling rumours of my endorsement of any of the aspirants should desist forthwith.”

Nigeria's 10th National Assembly will be inaugurated in June, just after Asiwaju Tinubu is sworn-in on May 29. In the senate, the APC has 57 seats, the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party has 29, the Labour Party has six seats, the New Nigerian Peoples Party and the Social Democratic Party have two members each, while the All Peoples Grand Alliance and the Young Peoples Party have one member apiece.