Give Deputy Senate presidency to N’Central, says APC northern group

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Northern Forums have urged the party’s National Working Committee to consider the North‑Central geopolitical zone for the Deputy President of the 10th National Assembly. The groups argue that, since the Senate President and Deputy Senate President positions must be shared between the North and the South, the North‑Central zone has a strong chance of producing a presiding officer for the Red Chamber.

Habibu Salau, coordinator of the coalition, made the appeal in a statement to journalists in Abuja on Monday. He highlighted Senator Sani Musa, a senior lawmaker from the North‑Central zone, as eminently qualified to be elected either Senate President or Deputy Senate President. Salau said, “If the APC leadership decides to zone the position to the South, the Deputy Senate President should automatically go to the North‑Central. In fairness, the North‑Central deserves to produce the next Senate President or Deputy because of the impressive performance of the APC in the zone in the last election, as shown by the number of APC senators elected from each geopolitical zone.”

He cited the election results: the South‑West produced 15 of 18 senators, the South‑South seven of 18, the South‑East six of 15, the North‑Central ten of 19, the North‑East nine of 18, and the North‑West eight of 21. “Aside from party politics, it is obvious that the South‑West and North‑Central senators‑elect will determine the next presiding officers of the Red Chamber,” the group added. “The APC National Working Committee should therefore consider all these factors before finalising the zoning arrangements for the 10th Senate leadership.”

Meanwhile, President‑elect Bola Tinubu told lawmakers‑elect that he has no preferred candidates for the leadership of either chamber of the 10th National Assembly. Notable senators‑elect who have expressed interest in the Senate Presidency include Ali Ndume (Borno South), Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Orji Uzoh Kalu (Abia), Jibrin Barau (Kano) and Mohammed Sani Musa (Niger), among others.