The South East Senators, led by Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, have voiced their opposition to the APC’s decision to zone the Senate presidency to the South South. Senator Ubah argued that the South East deserves the office for the sake of fairness and equity, and that it would strengthen the unity of Nigeria if the next leader of the upper lawmaking body came from their region.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Senator Ubah said, “the position of the South-East caucus [of the Senate] is that we are going to contest for the Senate President of Nigeria.” He also mentioned Orji Kalu and Osita Izunaso as potential candidates for the position.
Despite the South East giving the ruling APC the least votes in the 2023 presidential election, Senator Ubah maintained that there should be a “balance of the equation” in the distribution of key positions in Nigeria. He stressed that Nigeria is not divided on who brings the vote and who does not, and that the South East region is an integral part of Nigeria.
In light of this opposition, the South East Senators plan to meet to finalize plans to pick a candidate. The move has been met with mixed reactions, with some Nigerians in support of the South East producing the Senate President and others arguing that the decision should be based on merit rather than zoning.
In conclusion, the South East Senators have voiced their opposition to the APC’s zoning decision for the Senate presidency, stating that the region deserves the office for fairness and equity. They plan to finalize plans to pick a candidate for the position. The move has sparked debate among Nigerians, with some supporting the decision and others arguing for a merit-based selection process.