9th Senate: Group endorses Kalu for deputy Senate president
- An Igbo group has endorsed the aspiration of Dr Orji Uzor Kalu to be the next deputy Senate president
- The group, Ogene Igbo Support for Equity and Good Governance, said Kalu is the most qualified for the position
- The group also noted that being a former House of Representatives member qualifies Kalu in ranking to occupy the position
Igbo group, Ogene Igbo Support for Equity and Good Governance, has endorsed former Abia state governor and senator-elect, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, to become the deputy Senate president in the incoming 9th Senate.
The group said Kalu is most qualified for the position and urged the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and other senators-elect to support his ambition.
National coordinator of the group, Charles Mbalisi, in a statement sent to journalists on Monday, April 15, urged Kalu to declare his intention as quickly as possible, expressing confidence that the former Abia governor would enjoy massive support from party officials and other colleagues.
Mbalisi said the group respects APC’s decision to zone the Senate presidency to north-east, but requested that the position of the deputy Senate president be zoned to the south-east, in order to maintain equitable balance in the party’s zoning of leadership of the Senate and House of Representatives in 9th National Assembly.
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His words: “The huge contributions of lgbo leaders in APC, particularly, in the last presidential election and other elections in the south-east cannot be under-emphasised. APC got more votes in 2019 elections as against 2015 elections.
“APC also produced more senators and House of Representatives members in south-east in the 2019 elections, which is a measure of increase in acceptance of the party in the south -east.
“Undoubtedly, Dr. Kalu contributed greatly in that success. Not only that, he also ensured that APC got impressive votes that helped President Muhammadu Buhari win the 2019 presidential election comfortably.
“He is a bridge builder between the south-east and other regions in Nigeria. In other words, he posses the political influence and diplomacy to complement the senate leadership as deputy senate president.”
The group also noted that being a former House of Representatives member qualifies Kalu in ranking to occupy the position of the deputy Senate president.
Meanwhile, an APC chieftain and Councillor-elect of Wuse ward, in the Federal Capital Territory, Mathias Aliu, says the south will be cheated if the APC does not endorse Senator Francis Alimikhena for the position of deputy Senate president.
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Alimikhena, a retired military officer and second term senator, currently represents Edo north senatorial district and is the deputy majority whip of the Senate.
In a statement sent to Legit.ng on Friday, April 12, Aliu said the senator is in a position to promote the party's agenda in the southern part of the country because of his influence and being a performing senator.
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Source: Legit.ng
