LEADERSHIP
Indications have emerged that the All Progressives Congress (APC) may review its zoning formula.
The decision, LEADERSHIP gathered, is fallout of the recent parley between the president-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and presidential candidate of New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, in Paris, France, recently.
Revelations from the meeting indicate that North Central might be considered for the deputy Senate president position as against the North West which was earlier picked by the APC for the position.
APC had announced its zoning formula which favoured minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godwill Akpabio, (South South) as Senate president and Tajudeen Abbas (North West) as Speaker of House of Representatives for the 10th National Assembly.
The APC NWC also confirmed the endorsement of Senator Barau Jubrin (North West) as deputy Senate president and Ben Kalu (South East) as deputy Speaker of the House.
The meeting between Tinubu and Kwankwaso had caused an upset within the camp of Kano State governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, who had been at loggerheads with his predecessor, Kwankwaso.
The protracted power tussle culminated in the recent governorship election where Kwankwaso’s NNPP gained political control of the state by producing the next governor.
It was however gathered that at the meeting with Tinubu in France, Kwankwaso, a former governor of Kano State, made a case for the North Central to be considered for the deputy Senate president, following the agitation that trailed the zoning formula of the party which excluded the region.
Kwankwaso’s gesture, it was learnt, is aimed at ensuring he enjoys smooth access to the president-elect.
Senator Barau, APC’s pick for the deputy Senate president, is Senator-elect for Kano North, and enjoys the support of Ganduje.
With the likely altering of the APC zoning formula, it was learnt that Senator Sani Musa from Niger State in the North Central geopolitical zone, might be considered for the deputy Senate president slot.
A member-elect who confided in our correspondents said, “Our outing today at the APC headquarters was very encouraging and we are more determined to drive home our point that Abbass possesses the qualities to lead us.
“So, our plan now is to ensure we are well fortified in one accord to go into the chamber because we cannot say exactly what the chambers will dictate. But in case of any unexpected thing, we will nominate a southerner who is a strong supporter of Abbas to take the chair of the lower chamber.
“We are not in shortage of people so the opposition cannot take anything from us. We will definitely go to the South south and we have the likes of Professor Julius Ihonvbere who is well respected by all. We can immediately put him forward to balance the whole thing as a plan B.
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