Abdullahi Ganduje, Governor of Kano State, has announced that governors of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have agreed to zone the next Senate President to the country’s South-South geopolitical region.
The governors under the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) had previously recommended that the Senate President be zoned to either the south-east or south-south regions.
They also proposed that the positions of majority leader, deputy majority leader, and chief whip be used as compensation for those who may be asked to step down from running for the four presiding officers.
However, in a video circulating on the internet by African Independent Television (AIT), Mr. Ganduje stated that the APC governors have decided to support the former governor of Akwa Ibom, Godswill Akpabio, who is from the South-South.
The video showed Mr Ganduje and some of his governor colleagues, including Cross River State’s Ben Ayade, meeting with some individuals.
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Mr Ganduje assured that nothing will change the governors’ proposed zoning formula for the party.
“The Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria will come from the South-South and no other person than the former governor of Akwa Ibom, the uncommon governor, the uncommon minister who will be the uncommon president of the senate,” he said.
“We have resolved that, so we are giving you assurance.” We are waiting for the deal day to become Nigeria’s Senate President.”
Mr. Ayade responded by thanking the APC governors for zoning the Senate President to his geopolitical region.
He congratulated Mr Akpabio on his election as the next Senate President.
“I also want to thank you for actually zoning the president of the Senate to the south-south and to our brother from our neighbouring state who is also a part of Cross River State.” We honour him and thank you for this opportunity.”
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Mr Akpabio and Osita Izunaso of Imo State are the candidates vying for the ticket of Senate President from the South-South geopolitical zone.
Messrs. Akpabio and Izunaso have previously served one four-year term in the Senate. They have also allegedly visited President Muhammadu Buhari in order to persuade him to facilitate the zoning to their region.