Senate Presidency: Ndume joins race, cautions against zoning

By Musa Baba Adamu

Former Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, who represents Borno South has expressed his readiness to contest for Senate President in the 10th National Assembly.
The 10th Assembly will be inaugurated in June 2023 after the swearing-in of the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu on May 29.
Ndume, who disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, however, said his ambition would be determined by the fairness of the zoning arrangements that would be put in place by the All Progressives Congress leadership
He said “Subject to the position of the party (APC), and the fairness of such arrangements, I intend to throw my hat in the ring for the race of Senate President because of my experience.”
The Borno South Senator who contested the seat with the incumbent president of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan in 2019, wondered why the APC was insisting on zoning arrangements for the National Assembly positions when it didn’t do the same during the presidential primaries.
He said, “The APC leadership did not take any position during the presidential primary election. Aspirants from all geopolitical zones participated in the exercise.
“Senators should be allowed to choose a competent person among them that has adequate legislative and managerial experiences to lead the Senate.
“Zoning may not lead to the emergence of the best person for the job, that is why the decision to choose the Senate presiding officers must be the sole responsibility of the senators.”
He pledged to put Nigeria and Nigeria’s interests first if elected, even as he said the issue of political inclusion and power devolution would be paramount in his Agenda.
As the Senate President, he said he would “be one, not first among equals” and promised to work harmoniously and interdependently with the executive arm of government.
Ndume also said the relationship between the legislature and the judiciary would be cordial without undermining the principles of Separation of Power.
He pledged that the Senate under his leadership would make new laws and review existing ones to meet the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians.