…By Dorcas Funmi for TDPel Media.
A group of non-serving senators from the All Progressives Congress (APC) belonging to the second to fourth republics have appealed to Orji Uzor Kalu, Abdul’Aziz Yari, and other aspirants who have expressed opposition to the party’s zoning arrangement for the Senate President seat in the 10th National Assembly.
Emphasis on Party Supremacy and the Call to Step Down
The non-serving senators, which include prominent figures like Olusegun Osoba, Tanko Yakasai, Godknows Igali, and John Praise, reiterated the significance of party supremacy and urged the aggrieved aspirants to step down from their bids.
They stressed that party unity should take precedence and appealed to the aspirants to consider the greater interest of the party.
Party’s Zoning Arrangement and Disagreement Among Aspirants
President Bola Tinubu and the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC had previously designated the position of the Senate President to the South-South region, specifically endorsing Godswill Akpabio as the party’s candidate, with Barau Jibrin as his deputy.
However, Kalu, Yari, and others have refused to accept the party’s zoning arrangement, leading to disagreement within the party.
Plea to Avoid Past Mistakes and Foster Party Unity
During an enlarged meeting of former senators in Abuja, Basheer Lado, the convener, called on the aspirants who oppose the party’s chosen candidate to learn from past mistakes and prioritize party unity.
He urged them to withdraw their bids in order to promote peace, cohesion within the party, and facilitate a smooth transition under the leadership of Tinubu.
Respect for Party Supremacy as Enshrined in the Constitution
Ameh Ebute, a former president of the Senate, emphasized the importance of respecting the supremacy of the party as stated in its constitution.
He referred to a section of the party’s constitution that underscores the significance of party supremacy and adherence to the party’s leadership decisions regarding the allocation of National Assembly leadership positions.
Support for Akpabio’s Competency and Qualifications
While expressing his support for Godswill Akpabio’s candidacy for the Senate President position, Tanko Yakasai stated his confidence in Akpabio’s qualifications and background.
Yakasai emphasized that the era of a shortage of qualified Nigerians for such positions had long passed and expressed his conviction that Akpabio is capable of holding the position based on his track record.
Familiarity with the Personality in Question
Yakasai further noted that discussing a personality like Akpabio’s in such a gathering was somewhat challenging due to the participants’ familiarity with him and his reputation, implying that his credentials and suitability for the position were widely known among the attendees.