Senate Presidency
OpenLife Nigeria reports that some Senators in the opposition political parties in the National Assembly have vowed to upset any arrangement by the all progressives congress, APC, if the party’s principal offices zoning pattern contrasts with the standing rules of the senate.
This decision by opposition Senators is coming on the heels of final preparations for the formation of the 10th National Assembly.
At the moment, it is speculated that the choice of the next senate president would largely depend on the zoning of the office, among other principal offices, by the leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) which so far has clinched 57 seats, with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) making do with 29, while the Labour Party managed to coast home with 6 members. New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and the Social Democratic Party have 2 members each while All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and Young Peoples Progressive Party (YPPP) have one member each.
At present, top contenders for the hot seat are the current senate president, Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan (Yobe North), Ali Ndume (Borno South), Akpabio Godswill (Akwa-Ibom North), Orji Uzoh Kalu (Abia North), Jibrin Barau (Kano-North), and Mohammed Sani Musa (Niger-East.
Lending his voice Wednesday morning Arive TV programme, Senator Agom Jarigbe cautioned APC to allow Senator pick who they want as their leaders.
He noted that there is a standing Senate rule which guides how principal officers would emerge in any fresh legislative assembly.
According to him, Principals offices are reserved for returning legislators.
“We cannot go outside senate standing rule. Senators should be allowed to choose its leaders. The South South caucus will meet soon to take a position based on our personal convictions and the interest of our zone,” he stated.
He added that competence is key in selecting principal officers and not just about where a senator comes from or the political party he belongs.
“We should choose the best,” he advised.
Senator Agom Jarigbe, 52, who hails from Ibil in Ogoja Local Government Area of Cross River State is currently a member of the Senate in Nigeria’s 9th National Assembly representing Cross River North. The PDP Senator who read Chemistry and graduated from the University of Calabar, Cross River State in 2004 defeated governor Ben Ayade in the February 25 election.
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