THE BATTLE FOR SENATE PRESIDENT SEAT BEGINS.

Now that Sen Bukola Saraki will not be returning to the 9th Senate, feelers from Abuja indicates that Senators elected on the platform of APC are already gearing up for the exalted seat to provide adequate leadership to complement the policies and programs expected to be mapped out by the executive arm of government in order to reach the NEXT LEVEL.

Political actors, pundits and commentators are of the opinion that the SP should remain in the North Central. Others are of the opinion that the seat should be zoned to either the South South or South East. In the other way round, it's been argued that the North East should produce the next Senate President.

SOUTH SOUTH As it stands, if the position is zoned to the South South, then Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege from Delta State seems to be the MOST FAVOURED Senator of APC extraction from the Zone. Moreover, he's a ranking Senator.

NORTH EAST If it's zoned to the North East, it's going to be a battle between two(2) Senior Ranking Senators, i.e, Sen Ahmad Lawan, the Senate Leader from Yobe State and Sen Ali Ndume, Former Senate Leader from Borno State.

 NORTH CENTRAL Coming back to the North Central, the MOST RANKING Senator on the good books of the Presidency is Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, the Former Governor of Nasarawa State who just won his 3rd Term re-election bid. In Kwara State, all the 3 Newly Elected Senators are new comers. Same thing is applicable to Plateau, Benue and Kogi States. As for Niger State, we have Sen Abdullahi Sahabi returning for the 2nd time.

SOUTH EAST Permutation would have favoured the South East but if care is not taken, they may loose out just like what happened in 2015.



Most of the Senators elected from the SE belongs to the PDP. Sen. Ike Ekwerenmadu would have easily become the next SP. But APC Senators will never make such mistake of electing someone from the opposition to be the SP. Afterall, we have not forgotten in a hurry the antics of Sen Saraki and Sen Ekwerenmadu. Sen Andy Ubah lost his reelection bid. Sen. Benjamin Uwajumogu from Okigwe Zone is not certain of returning. WHAT ARE THEIR CHANCES? By and large, depending on where the Party decides to Zone the position, if you ask me, I'd say it's going to be Sen Abdullahi Adamu from Nasarawa State(North Central) OR Sen. Ahmad Lawan from Yobe State(North East) OR Sen Ali Ndume from Borno State(North East). Remember that North West and South West are out of the equation considering the fact that the President and Vice President are from these two zones. Going by the Senate Standing Rules, the SP Seat is exclusively reserved for ranking Senator(s). Hence all the Outgoing Governors going to the Senate are automatically out of the permutation, if not the likes of Gov Okorocha, Gov Kashim Shettima, Gov Geidam, Gov Almakura and a host of others would have been part of the permutation.

 Finally, it is my fervent prayers that God will bless us with that individual that has Nigeria at heart to help PMB to take Nigeria to the NEXT LEVEL. Rt. Hon. Shuaibu Sani writes from Akwanga LGC, Nasarawa State.