The All Progressives Congress (APC) National Working Committee has zoned the leadership of the 10th National Assembly, nominating Godswill Akpabio for the position of the Senate President.
According to a statement issued on Monday by the APC’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, the zoning arrangement reported by the NWC is as follows: South-South Senator Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom) nominated for the Senate President, and North West Senator Barau Jubrin (Kano) is nominated for the Deputy Senate President.
Others include the Speaker of the House of Representatives (North-West), Hon. Abass Tajudeen (Kaduna), and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives (South East), Hon. Ben Kalu (Abia).
According to Morka, the zoning arrangement was announced following a meeting of the NWC on Monday to evaluate reports of consultations and meetings held with President-Elect Bola Tinubu and other stakeholders on the zoning arrangement for the 10th National Assembly.
He stated that the NWC requested more and better consultation with relevant stakeholders in order to ensure the support of National Assembly leadership aspirants and party members worldwide.
The party asked its leaders, members, and all Nigerians to continue working for the country’s peace and growth during and beyond the present leadership transition.
Meanwhile, the South-East Senate caucus has warned President-elect Bola Tinubu of the grave consequences of zoning and endorsing a candidate for Senate President from the South-South without regard for the South-East, as such a move will undoubtedly serve as a recipe for injustice, leading to restiveness.
The advice was stated in a statement issued by the caucus following their meeting in Abuja.
Senator Ifeanyi Uba, reading the communiqué to press after the meeting, said the lawmakers are pleading with the President-elect to be sensitive to the times in Nigeria and guarantee the country continues to develop on the basis of equality, unity, and justice.
Senator Orji Uzor-Kalu and first-term Senator-elect Dave Umahi are the leading candidates from the South-East for Senate President.
Other key APC legislators, including Kano State’s Ado Doguwa and Plateau State’s Yusuf Gagdi, are vying for the role of speaker.
Gagdi, a second-term federal member, stated that he is recruiting elected lawmakers from different sections of the country as well as other political parties in order to achieve his goal.
