The National Working Committee (NWC) and other divisions of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the country’s ruling party, have been urged by the Citizens Network for Peace and Development in Nigeria (CNPDN) to zone the Senate presidency to the south-south.

It explicitly recommended that Godswill Akpabio, the former governor of Akwa Ibom State, be considered for the position.

Francis Wainwei, the national secretary of the CNPDN, bemoaned the fact that the South-South has not had the chance to produce the president of the Senate since the restoration of democratic rule in 1999 when speaking to reporters in Abuja yesterday.

“It will also drastically reduce the usual acrimony that characterizes such struggles for power among the geo-political zones, thereby reducing unnecessary distractions for the peaceful and smooth takeoff of the new dispensation under President-elect Boa Ahmed Tinubu. Akpabio is the only ranking senator from the South. 

“Based on Senate standing rules, only ranking members of the upper legislative chamber are eligible to contest for the positions of President and Deputy President of the Senate, respectively.”

“The electoral contribution of the South greatly helped the ruling party to clinch the presidency in the 2023 presidential election; the party must consolidate its electoral success by zoning the Senate Presidency to it.”

“In the same vein, we are calling on the ruling party to also zone all the available political positions equitably among the six geopolitical zones to strengthen national unity and cohesion.”

On the other hand, a civil society organization called Concerned Nigerians for Sustainable Democracy chose a senator from the South East.

Dr. Amos Gizo, the group’s coordinator, told journalists in Abuja that “the Muslim-Muslim ticket that nearly cost the APC electoral victory has passed.” 

“Muslims currently make up Nigeria’s top two citizens.”

“For the sake of democracy and inclusivity, individuals pushing for the Senate president from the North West should resign if the country is to continue, given that all potential candidates from the region are Muslims.”