Senator Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State and Patrick Ndubueze, senator-elect from Imo North, have declared their intention to run for the office of the Senate President in the 10th Senate.
Godswill Akpabio, a former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs and former Minority Leader of the Senate was believed to have been endorsed as the consensus candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the position.
Yari, a former governor of Zamfara State, in a meeting with executives of Tinubu Shettima Network (TSN), said the due process in the election of the Senate President must be followed and anybody interested in contesting must be allowed.
“The Senate Presidency is senators’ business and on the D- day’ when we are going to elect our president, we will do the needful,” Yari was quoted as saying.
“When we do that, we are not for anybody. We are doing what the Constitution says that we should take our leader within ourselves.
“That is what the sections of the Constitution stated very clearly. What is going to happen that day, it is going to happen based on the instructions of the constitution and not for anyone. So, we are going to exercise our constitutional rights there,” Yari said.
Ndubueze, a former member of the House of Representatives, announced his ambition to run for the Senate Presidency, in a letter to the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and all 109 senators-elect.
“Having been persuaded of my track record as a ranking legislator, a politician of more than 35 years standing and a personal character that had stood the test of time for integrity and commitment to the people, I, Engr. Patrick Ndubueze, being a ranking member of the national assembly, do desire to offer myself to contest the office of the senate president of the 10th national assembly strongly believing in my capacity to stand in the roles of the leadership required at this time,” Ndubueze wrote.
“Sir, I trust that you will bless my aspiration as declared with your active support through appropriate counselling, advice and networking, to ensure that this noble cause sees the light of the day.
“While I await your kind acceptance of my declaration of intention, sir, please, accept, the assurances of my esteemed regards.
“Distinguished senators, over the last 32 years, I have remained committed to the good cause of the Nigerian project.
“And had always been persuaded that our sovereign advancement inclusive of the desired progressions of millions of Nigerians is better enabled through the instrumentality of appropriately engineered legislations which are superintended by a knowledgeable and motivated political head of the National Assembly who is equipped for thoroughness, moderation and vision-driven compassion.
“It is for these reasons, and their fulfilment, distinguished senators, that I have decided to declare my intention to contest the office of the president of the senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“I do not treat this declaration lightly, distinguished senators. I, indeed, have been on a consultation frenzy with critical stakeholders across the length and breadth of our country to positive acclaim,” he wrote.
