By Community Reporters
A battle over who becomes Nigeria’s next Senate president is brewing among three candidates from the Southeast. They are the current Senate Whip and former governor of Abia State, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu; current governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. Dave Umahi and the former national organising secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Osita Izunaso.
The three were declared winner in the February 25 National Assembly elections as senators-elect of their various senatorial districts in Abia, Ebonyi and Imo States respectively.
So, in line with earlier permutations that their return to or election into the senate would enhance their opportunity to emerge number one lawmaker in the upper legislative chamber of the National Assembly, it was revealed that three men have bright chances of emerging the next Senate President, going by their relationship with the president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Sources close to the three politicians say while Kalu and Izunaso are seriously banking on their ranking Senate membership to emerge as the next president of the Senate, Umahi is banking on his current position as the governor, who had earlier aspired to lead the country as its President.
However, Kalu and Izunaso seem highly favoured going by their close relationship with the top APC leaders and power brokers. For instance, while most Senate returnees may prefer an Orji Kalu as the president, an outside influence may throw up Izunaso going by his relationship with the governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, who singlehandedly made Izunaso a second term senator.
Before now, especially during the political campaigns, the watch word of Kalu, Izunaso and Umahi followers had been that a vote for the them would guarantee them the top shot in Senate.
Going by latest development, the door has opened for them to be elected as Senate President when hostilities for who becomes the President officer opens for the 10th Senate.
Based on the fact that the President is a Yoruba man from South West and his vice an Hausa from North East, expectations are high that an Igbo man from the South East will be the Senate President.
Among those who have been declared winners of the Senate contest from the South East and part of the ruling APC is Osita Izunaso. Of the 89 Seats declared so far, APC is leading with 49 while PDP, NNPP, Labour Party, YPP and APGA trail behind.
Should the South East be entitled to the Senate President, the lot may fall on of the three, who, it was claimed were tipped for the position before the election.
