Senate Presidency: Orji Kalu, Yari Protest Against APC’s Zoning

The Chief Whip of the Senate, Uzor Orji Kalu; Senator-elect, Abdulaziz Yari; and the Senator representing Niger east, Mohammed Musa; have protested against the nominations of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for leadership positions in the senate.

The party had nominated Godswill Akpabio, a former minister of Niger Delta affairs, and Barau Jibrin, senator representing Kano north, as president of the senate, and deputy.

Speaking at a meeting with Abdullahi Adamu, APC national chairman, on Thursday in Abuja, Yari said they are not satisfied with the arrangement.

The former governor of Zamfara said the senators want a level playing field.

“We are here to present our letter of grievances to you and also tell this honourable house that as leaders, we are not satisfied with the arrangement,” he said after presenting a protest letter.

“What we are expecting from you people is to give us fair play, at least if nothing, to mention that a particular position is zoned and anybody in that zone can’t participate.”

On his part, Adamu said the party’s leadership would go through their letter to address their grievances.

“Hold the fire until the last word is heard from us, we are the custodians of the party as NWC, but we are not acting alone. The voice of Tinubu the President-elect is an essential voice,” Adamu said.

“We must accommodate him the best we can. I will not compromise on that. He is right now outside the country and by the grace of God when he comes back we will go back to the drawing board and put our heads together again and see what we will get.

“I cannot preempt that, I will wait until we hold that meeting with the president-elect.”

The development came after some speakership hopefuls met with Adamu to complain about the zoning arrangements.