The entrance of Governor Dave Umahi into the tussle for the Senate Presidency has made things difficult for Senator Orji Uzor Kalu who initially had an edge over other candidate who are eyeing the top job.
Except a last minute change, the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, with the highest number of senators in the Senate the magazine learned has decided to zone the position to the south east.
According to sources in the party, the decision became necessary since the two out of the three major zones, North and South West have already produced the president-elect and vice president elect in Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and Kashim Shetima, respectively.
The decision to also zone the office to the south east, sources say, may not be unconnected with the belief among the APC leadership that doing so will return peace to the restive region which has been crying marginalisation.
But the problem now confronting the party, insiders say, is who among the top two candidates to settle for to lead the NASS as its Chairman.
The magazine had earlier reported that Kalu, a former governor of Abia State and current Chief Whip of the Senate was sure to land the job, as he’s favoured by a crop of APC leaders who believe that he has paid his dues as a loyal party man, aside from being the highest ranking senator from the zone.
But the table appears to have turned in the last few hours following the decision of Governor Umahi to throw his hat in the ring for the contest.
As a new comer into the Senate, the magazine learned that the governor’s quest for the nation’s number three position is already receiving support among some chieftains of the APC who insist that the Ebonyi helmsman is also qualified to lead the Senate.
This is more so as some in the party believe that the Governor is banking on his closeness to Tinubu and President Muhammadu Buhari to run for the office after the inauguration on May 30 this year.
“Governor Umahi is a loyal party man who has been the arrowhead of the party campaign in the south east. Apart from this, his performance as governor in terms of provision of infrastructure in his state has made him a post boy for the party. If he choses to contest, there’s no doubt that he will be supported,” a source in the party said on Tuesday.
According to Ken Nwobodo, in an opinion piece published on Monday titled “Umahi As Nest President of the Senate”, the writer said Governor Umahi has earned his badge as a performer, and qualified to lead the Senate.
“As a member of the All Progressives Congress, he stood out as the most credible voice of the party in the south east…….As a member of the Red Chamber in the 10th National Assembly, it would not be out of place to consider him as the next President of the Senate, ” Nwobodo said, adding that the party must first ensure that the office is zoned to the region.
Those watching the development, informed the magazine that Umahi and Kalu stand the chance of being returned as president of the Senate based on their pedigree as chieftains of the party who have a broadbased support across the country.
If any of the two eventually emerge as Senate President, the south east will no longer cry marginalisation as one of their own will be among the top four political office holders in the country, analysts say.
The only problem that may arise, this school of thought insist, is that other zones could capitalise on the refusal of the two candidates to step down for each other, to make a bid for the office.
Meanwhile, the ruling APC said on Monday it has not zoned the prince offices in NASS. The decision on the matter will only be taken after the governorship and House of Assembly elections coming up on March 18, the party said yesterday.
