The Coalition of APC Support Groups on Wednesday wrote a formal letter to the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, urging the ruling party to zone the Senate President office to the South-East in the spirit of fairness.
In the letter, signed by the CASG National Secretary, Mazi Peter Okoroafor, the coalition expressed optimism that zoning the prestigious office to the region ahead of the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly would douse agitation and unrest among their people.
The coalition’s plea came barely three days after the National Vice Chairman of the APC (North-West), Mallam Salihu Lukman, called on northern senators contesting the post to step down to balance the Muslim-Muslim ticket approach of the party.
According to him, it would be insensitive to have a Muslim Senate president after producing a president and his deputy, who share similar faith.
At least, eight senators had indicated an interest in the race.
They include Senators Jibrin Barau (Kano Central), Sani Musa (Niger East), Orji Kalu (Abia North), and GodsWill Akpabio (Akwa-Ibom North-West).
Others are Senators Osita Izunaso (Imo West), Peter Ndubueze (Imo North), Abdul’Aziz Yari (Zamfara West), and Ahmad Lawan (Yobe North), amongst others.
Drumming support for the South-East in Wednesday’s letter to the APC National Working Committee, the coalition urged the Adamu-led NWC to consider adopting the senator-elect for Imo West, Osita Izunaso, as the next Senate President, being the most senior ranking lawmaker from the region.
The letter partly read, “While not objecting to the emotional argument of geo-political consideration, it behoves the NWC to lean on the balance of justice and equity, and insecurity challenges to concede the Senate president position to the South-East geo-political zone, where undoubtedly character and competence is remarkably in abundance.”
