By our reporter
Some All Progressives Congress (APC) senators-elect have begun practical moves to secure the support of their colleagues to emerge as the president of the 10th Senate.
The 10th National Assembly will be inaugurated in June.
Already a member of the National Working Committee, Salihu Lukman, who is also the National Vice Chairman (North West) of the governing party has asked the national chairman and secretary, Senators Abdullahi Adamu and Iyiola Omisore to resign partly for failing to lead the party to perform its function in the way to regulate the emergence of the leadership of the two houses of the National Assembly.
Our reporter gathered that aspirants for the position of the Senate President have started reaching out to both returning and newly elected senators.
However, it was learnt that while some of the aspirants were making personal contacts with the new comers, and making subtle appeals to them, a very desperate one among them and non-ranking was said to be distributing foreign currency to elected senators in order to gain advantage over other aspirants.
For instance, one of the aspirants from the North West geopolitical zone was said to have allegedly distributed huge sums of foreign currency to each of the senators-elect shortly after they collected their certificates of return last week and after the senators and representatives- elect engagement with the APC leadership.
The move surprised some of the senator-elect, with some expressing disappointment in the idea of trying to buy others to support his aspiration.
A new senator-elect, who did not want his name in print, wondered why the aspirant who is already doling out money will not wait for the zoning arrangements that the national leadership of the APC is planning to unveil after the Governorship and House of Assembly elections.
A ranking senator among the aspirants was also said to have promised returning lawmakers and all APC senators-elect, juicy committee membership if they supported his aspiration.
At least, 97 Senate seats have been cleared by the Independent National Electoral Commission with the ruling All Progressives Congress, (APC) having 57.
The main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has 28 senators; the Labour Party has six; the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has two; Social Democratic Party (SDP) has two; All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the Young Progressives Party (YPP) have one senator each.
At the moment, the incumbent President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan is said to be interested in the race for the 10th Senate Presidency with subtle moves by his group. He is from Yobe State, North East geopolitical zone with the Vice President-elect, Senator Kashim Shettima.
Also, in the race is Senator Ali Ndume, who is from Borno South, same state with Shettima, who is currently representing Borno Central in the 9th Senate.
The Chairman, Committee on Senate Services, Senator Sani Musa, (APC, Niger East), popularly known as 313, who is well cherished by most of his colleagues, is in the race.
He is from the North Central geopolitical zone and this gives him a very bright chance for the position because his state produced the highest number of votes in the North Central during the presidential election.
Senator Barau Jibrin, APC, Kano North, who is the current Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriations, is equally in the race.
He was recently reported to have hosted some senators-elect to a lunch at the Transcorp Hilton to seek their support.
The Senate Chief Whip and former Abia State Governor, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, representing Abia North, is also said to be interested in the position as he was seen expressing his ambition to some few senators-elect after the interactive meeting on Monday in Abuja.
Others are Senators Godswill Akpabio, Akwa Ibom State; Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State; and Senator Danjuma Goje ?APC, Gombe Central).
Former deputy Senate Leader, Senator Abdul Ningi from Bauchi State; former Zamfara Governor, Abdulaziz Yari; Aliyu Wammako (APC, Sokoto North and Shabi Ya’u, (APC, Zamfara North), are also said to be in the race.
