The ambitions of Senator Orji Uzor Kalu and Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State to become the President of the 10th Senate has torn the southeast apart.
There is a strong indication that the Senate Presidency would be zoned to the Southeast as the National Assembly members elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress meet with the party’s leadership and President-elect Bola Tinubu today to decide on the composition of the leadership of the next assembly.
Orji Kalu, the current Chief Whip of the Senate, and Governor Umahi are two of the candidates from the South East gunning for the top job in the Red Chamber and their ambitions have pitched elements from the region against each other.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide on Sunday backed Umahi as Senate president in the 10th National Assembly but Iwitnesslive learnt that many of the members of the Igos’ apex socio-political group were not in agreement with the position of the leadership of the group.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo’s Secretary General, Mazi Okechuwu Isiguzoro, in a statement said, “for the interest of unity, for the gains of Umahi’s proven commitment to one Nigeria, infrastructure and human development, also for the Igbo interest and need to galvanise support for our long-sought chance to have one of us stride to the presidency in the near future, we seek the support of all to enthrone Umahi as the next Senate president.”
But a source told our correspondent that Orji Kalu is enjoying the support of eminent Igbo persons regarding his ambition and they are piling pressure on the president-elect on his behalf.
“According to the rule of the Senate, the President of the Upper Chamber must be a returning Senator and Umahi is just a first timer and may not be considered for the post and Southeast should not play a card that would make them lose out completely. Orji Kalu is an experienced lawmaker who is occupying a leadership position in the Senate already. But Some people in Ohanaeze are really pushing for Umahi. There are interesting days ahead,” the source said.
