In the elections, the APC emerged as the party with the largest number of legislative seats, securing more than 55 out of 109 Senate seats and over 160 out of 360 House of Representatives seats
Socio-political group PANDEF has urged the All Progressives Congress (APC) to zone the Senate Presidency position to the South-South geopolitical zone for the sake of equity and fairness. The APC won the majority of the legislative seats in the recent elections, with over 55 Senate seats out of 109 and over 160 out of 360 House of Representatives seats.
Several APC members, including Orji Kalu, Jibrin Barau, Godswill Akpabio, Dave Umahi, Ahmad Lawan, Ali Ndume, Abdulaziz Yari, and Osita Izunaso, have expressed interest in the Senate Presidency. However, the party is expected to release its zoning formula after the Ramadan fast, according to Senate Spokesperson Ajibola Bashiru.
PANDEF’s spokesman, Ken Robinson, argued that it is only proper for the ruling party, which has the majority of Senators-elect, to zone the position to the South-South zone. The group, led by elder statesman Pa Edwin Clark, pointed out that the last time someone from the present South-South States occupied the office of Senate President was during the 2nd Republic (1979/1983), when the late Senator Joseph Wayas, from Cross River State, was elected.
The group also noted that since 1999, the South-South Zone has not had a turn in the Office of the Senate President, although it has had stints at the lower levels of Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, between 1999 and 2007, under the Rt. Hon. Chibudom Nwuche and the Rt. Hon. Austin Opara, both from Rivers State. Currently, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, from Delta State, is Deputy Senate President.
PANDEF argued that the South-South Zone has a strong reason to step up to the Senate Presidency after 24 years of the current Democratic experience, and that no contrary arguments can stand against this position. The group also stated that a Muslim Senate President would destabilize national order.
In conclusion, PANDEF implored APC leader Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, along with other key stakeholders of the APC, and all Senators-elect of all parties and the party hierarchies, to support the ceding of the incoming Senate Presidency to the South-South zone, stating that it is the fair and proper thing to do at this time of the country’s political progression.