Some of the known names in the race are Abdulaziz Yari, Jibrin Barau, David Umahi, Orji Kalu, Ali Ndume and Godswill Akpabio.
A member of the All Progressives Congress National Working Committee (NWC) and Vice-Chairman, north-west, Salihu Lukman, has said that a Christian from the South-South region should be leading the 10th National Assembly.
Lukman who has been in vanguard of reshuffling the party positions after their presidential candidate was declared the winner of the February 25 election and declared president-elect, advised that those aspiring to become senate president from his geopolitical zone should step down for a Christian from the south-south.
The Vice Chairman in a statement issued on Tuesday said that reshuffling of positions, it would douse ethnic and religious tension in the country which stem from the Muslim-Muslim ticket.
Both the president-elect and Vice President-elect, Bola Tinubu and Kashim Shettima are Muslims from the South-west and the North East respectively.
The statement partly read, “For instance, I have people from the north-west declaring to contest for the position of senate president without the courtesy of consulting any of us from the north-west in NWC.
“As much as I respect every elected national assembly member from north-west, I will appeal to those aspiring for the position of senate president to step down their aspiration in the overall interest of national cohesion and to ensure that in line with our commitment as leaders of the north-west to support the administration of Asiwaju Tinubu to assume office in May 29, 2023 with a good support base from Nigerians across every section and irrespective of ethnic and religious divide.
“So far, we only have individual aspirations for leadership positions in the 10th national assembly. Most of the aspirations hardly recognise the challenges of national cohesion.
“Unfortunately, most of those aspiring for positions of leadership in the 10th National Assembly appear to be disrespectful to structures of the party and their membership, including the NWC.”
Although, APC is yet to come up with a zoning formula for the leadership positions in the national assembly, a number of the senators elect have indicated their interest to contest for the position.
Some of the known names in the race are Abdulaziz Yari, Jibrin Barau, David Umahi, Orji Kalu, Ali Ndume and Godswill Akpabio.