Zamfara, Kano jostle for Senate Leader’s slot

Yerima, Gaya top contenders

From ADETUTU FOLASADE-KOYI, Abuja

Ahead of the All Pro­gressives Congress (APC) zoning ar­rangement for prin­cipal offices in the National Assembly, there are indica­tions that ranking Senators from the North-West are meeting to decide on the best candidate to put forward as Senate Leader, Victor Ndo­ma-Egba’s successor.

The APC, which won 60 majority seats in the Eight Senate, is expected to zone the Senate President’s seat to either the North Central or the North East, while the North West is to produce the candidate for Senate Leader’s position.

Already, some ranking Sen­ators have commenced lobby­ing of their colleagues in that direction.

With President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari from Katsina State, the North West Senate caucus may have de­cided to settle for the position of Senate Leader in the Eight Senate, having produced the highest number of Senators.

The geo-political zone produced 20 Senators in the March 28 senatorial election.

Eight of the Senators are ranking, as some have been elected to the chamber at least twice and others are coming from the House of Representa­tives, where they are also con­sidered as ranking members of the chamber.

With new set of Senators from Jigawa, Kaduna and a sprinkling of new members from Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Kano and Zamfara states, rank­ing members from the zone are now divided over which state should produce the Senate Leader.

Five states of the North West: Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara returned only six ranking Senators.

They are, Senators Kabiru Gaya (Kano) Adamu Aliero (Kebbi, former FCT minister), Abu Ibrahim (Katsina), Ahmed Ru’fai Sani (Zamfara), Kabir Marafa (Zamfara) and Ibrahim Gobir (Sokoto).

Senators-elect, Bala Ibn Na’Allah and Kano State Gov­ernor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, also have the ranking advantage, having been elected into the House of Representatives at different times. But the ranking rule, which gives preference to Senators, who have been elected more than once into the cham­ber, means that top contenders for the Senate Leader’s position are, Senators Sani, Marafa, Gaya and Adamu Aliero.

 

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