Senate President: APC North Central, North East In Epic Battle

BEVERLY HILLS, April 16, (THEWILL) – As the race for the office of the Senate President begins in earnest, indications emerged Thursday that the battle is going to pitch the North Central zone against the North East.

Already, the two zones have begun intense lobby of the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to swing the final decision on the exalted number three office in their favour.

At the party's national secretariat on Thursday, the chairman of the North Central zone of APC, Mr. Zakari Ede, led a powerful lobby team from his zone to convince the APC leadership on the need for the zone to retain the office.

This however came as Northeast governors appear set to rally support for a senator from the zone to occupy the position.

Speaking on the interest of the North East in the job, a serving APC senator from Borno State, Ali Ndume, explained that justice and equity demand that his zone be allowed to occupy the position now since the North Central has had the opportunity.

But rising from a strategic meeting on the matter, the North Central APC leaders adduced reasons why the zone must retain the seat. According to them, the zone deserved the position as a compensation for the massive support they gave the APC during the recently-held general elections.

The leaders, in a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, said: “Our resolute is borne out of the fact that by every consideration,

north central zone deserves to produce the next Senate President.”

Those who signed the communiqué include the APC North Central Zonal Chairman, Mr. Zakari Ede‎, the Chairman of APC in Kwara state, Hon. Ishola Fulani, Nasarawa APC Chairman, Mr. Philips Tatari, Plateau APC Chairman, Mr. Latep Daban, Benue APC Chairman, Mr. Abba Yaro, Kogi APC Chairman, Alhaji Hardy Ametuo, Federal Capital Territory APC Chairman, Abdulmalik Usman and Niger State APC Chairman, Mr. M.J. Imam.

The communique said : “It must be noted that since 1999, the north central zone even under Peoples Democratic Party has been taken third position and with our recent performance, we equally believe that the zone should have the same third position‎.

“We also like to put on record that the north central states delivered five governors as we won all our governorship elections, delivered thirteen senators and other National Assembly members including the members of states' houses of assembly to APC as against the norm.

“It will be unfair to be treated otherwise after these performances. If the zone has performed and delivered under the APC, we believe we should be adequately rewarded as was done under PDP.‎”

The APC leaders, who also used the opportunity of the meeting to congratulate the President-Elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and the vice-president elect, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, on their victory at the presidential election, however issued a warning to back up its case, saying “We need to emphasise here that North Central is a vulnerable zone and our success and victory should not be taken for granted.”