APC Urged to Zone Senate President to South-south

Adedayo Akinwale and Emameh Gabriel in Abuja

The Leadership Council of The Initiatives, an agenda-setting college of former and serving National Assembly members, has appealed to the leadership ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to zone the position of Senate President of the 10th Assembly to the South-South.

The Dean of The Initiatives, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh, while addressing a press conference on Thursday in Abuja said though zoning was not a constitutional issue but an attempt to address a social injustice.

He said since the President-elect was from the South and the Vice President-elect was  from the North, for justice, equity and fairness, the position from the Senate President should be zoned to the South.

Eyiboh stressed that while they were all canvassing that the Senate President should go to the South,  it shouldn’t be a case  of an aircraft that has lost contact with the control tower, adding that the position should be  micro zoned to the South-south.

He noted that the presidency of the Senate was not a reality show, adding that they  must interrogate the issue of pedigree and the issue of public perception of whoever wants to occupy the office.

The former lawmaker said the South-east since 1999 till date, all the South-east states have produced Senate President.

He said Ken Nnamani was a Senate president from Enugu, Chuba Okadigbo from Anambra, Evans Enwerem form Imo, Anyim Pius Anyim from Ebonyi and Adolphus Wabara (Abia), adding that it was time for the position to go to South-south.

Besides, Eyiboh added that it was also important to note that in this issue of zoning, the contribution of individual during the just concluded election should also be taken into consideration.

According to him,  The last election, how many votes did you bring to the table? The National Assembly and the presidential election took place the same day. So for  a senator to score 500,000 votes for his election and a House of Representatives member scored 450,000 votes, then the presidential votes is 1,800 votes. So if  you are looking for a national position, you should be national, in all respects.

Eyiboh stressed that the presidency of the Senate at this particular time requires someone who has capacity and the integrity like former Governor of Akwa Ibom state, Senator Godswill Akpabio.

He said Akpabio has the capacity and the pedigree to occupy the office.

“The Presidency of the Senate is not a reality show. So it’s not an all comers affair. We must determine the pedigree and also the issue of public’s perception of an individual,” he said.

Asked if he was aware that Akpabio has a case with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Eyiboh explained that the position of the law was that whoever alleges must prove, stressing that Akpabio has never stand trial and was never convicted.

He was of the views that going to EFCC or being invited by EFCC was not a conviction, adding that his  invitation by EFCC has nothing to do with integrity.