Senate In Focus: As Sani Musa, Barau Jibrin Battle For DSP Office

The All Progressives Congress (APC) is now being pushed to zone the principal offices of the 10th Assembly to South and North Central.

As it is now, the party seems to be buying the idea of zoning the office of the Senate President to the South, and the South South and the South East are now battling for it.

Presently, Senate Chief Whip Orji Uzo Kalu and former Senate Minority leader Godswill Akpabio are the most serious contenders.

In the North, Sen Sani Musa (Niger East) from the North Central and Sen Barau Jibrin (Kano North) North West are also battling for the office of the Deputy Senate President.

Sani Musa has already gotten endorsement from his people but if the North West gets the office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, it might be difficult for Barau Jibrin to get such support.

Even though both Sani Musa and Barau Jibrin set their eyes on the office of the chairman of the National Assembly, the need to carry every region along in the incoming administration is making them to restrategise.

The Senators-elect from the North Central geopolitical zone have endorsed Senator Sani Musa as the Deputy Senate President in the 10th National Assembly.

The Senator-elect for Nasarawa West Senatorial District, Aliyu Wadada, who convened the meeting on Friday said they would not settle for any position other than the Deputy Senate President.

Wadada also said the caucus was in synergy with their colleagues in the House of Representatives on the issue.

The caucus urged the National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress and the President-Elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, to respect the aspiration and wishes of the North Central in that regard.

Wadada said, “We convened this meeting to welcome Mr President-Elect from his foreign trip.

“We also appreciate his disposition to ensure that fairness and equity take place in the distribution of leadership positions to all the geopolitical zones.

“We are aware that there are agitations from various geopolitical zones on the positions of Senate President, deputy Senate President, Speaker and Deputy Speaker.

“We are aware of these agitations. The South West and the North East having produced the president and the vice president, respectively, the North Central as a result is of the stand and position that the least position we will go for is that of the Deputy Senate President,” he said.

On the other hand, an APC group is calling on the Senator representing Kano North to drop his ambition of becoming the Senate President and contest for the office of the deputy Senate President.

Concerned APC Members Forum,while speaking to journalists, in Abuja through their National Convener, Comrade Okpokwu Ogenyi, said every geo-political zone should be given a sense of belonging.

While it noted that the South West and North East have since produced the President-elect and Vice – President respectively, the group urged the APC National Working Committee and the Progressives Governors Forum to consider zoning the President of the Senate and Deputy Senate President to the South-South and North West.

Ogenyi said both zones contributed massive votes to the victory of the ruling party in the last February election and should be adequately rewarded.

The group further maintained that the duo of Senator Godswill Akpabio, (Akwa-Ibom North West) and Senator Barau Jibrin, (Kano North) being ranking Senators from both zones should be considered for the exalted seats.

Whatever happens, we still expect more battles ahead of the 10th National Assembly inauguration.