The best candidate for President of the Senate of the 10th National Assembly has been proposed as Senator Osita Izunaso (APC-Imo West).
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Integrity Group announced its support for Mr. Izunaso via a statement on Sunday, citing his patriotism, competence, and political experience gained in the National Assembly as reasons for its support.
Dawu Mohammed, the organization's national coordinator, and Chisom Nwakanma, its secretary, both signed the statement.
Sen. Izunaso, according to the group, was a senator-elect with a good education and legislative background in both the National Assembly's lower and upper chambers.
“Distinguished Sen. Izunaso is a lawmaker who has demonstrated competence and patriotism in both chambers.
“He is a committed patriot, nationalist, a core party man, urbane, cosmopolitan in outlook and worldview, competent party administrator, journalist of repute and a lawyer,†it said.
In the interest of fairness and equity, the group urged the National Working Committee of the APC to zone the position of the 10th Senate President to the South-East.
The South-East of Nigeria has continued to be its country's most disadvantaged geopolitical region since 1960, according to the group.
“The post-May 29, 2023 leadership of two out of the three arms of government presents a unique dilemma for the country.
“The President as the head of the Executive arm and government will be a Yoruba-Muslim and the Head of Judiciary will remain another Yoruba Muslim.â€
The movement demanded the election of a fervent Christian Igbo patriot.
“The South-South geopolitical zone has served as Vice President and President for a combined period of eight years since the return of civil rule in Nigeria in 1999.
“The North-West has produced President twice with late President Umaru Yar’adua and outgoing President Muhammadu Buhari, ditto for North-East that produced a Vice President in person of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar from 1999-2007.â€
The group claimed that since the formation of the APC, the South-South had benefited more than the South-East in terms of political representation.
“Chief John Oyegun and Comrade Adams Oshiomole have been National Chairmen of APC while Sen. John Akpan Udoedehe from Akwa-Ibom served as National Secretary of the APC.
“At the moment, Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege from Delta State is the Deputy Senate President.
“By the time the 10th NASS will open on June 10th, 2023, Sen. Izunaso will be the most ranking federal lawmaker and Senator from South-East.
“He was first elected into the House of Representatives in 2003 and later into the Senate in 2007.
“He was a founding member of the APC since 2013 and member of the merger committee of the then opposition parties that formed the APC,†he said.