LAGOS, Nigeria — In a move that challenges decades-long regional disparities, the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, defended its nomination of Senator Godswill Akpabio from the South-South zone as Senate President on Tuesday, May 9, 2023, setting the stage for an unprecedented shift in the Nigerian political landscape.
Felix Morka, the APC National Publicity Secretary, underscored the significance of the decision during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme. He emphasized the South-South zone, which Akpabio represents, has been overlooked for this position since the dawn of the Fourth Republic in 1999.
“I am from the South-South and I don’t see why the South-South is ineligible for consideration. After all, no Senate President has come from that region since 1999, since his dispensation,” Morka said.
The nomination comes after the APC National Working Committee zoned the leadership of the forthcoming 10th National Assembly on Monday, Mmay 8, 2023, including the position of Deputy Senate President, assigned to Senator Barau Jubrin of the North-West, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abass Tajudeen, also from the North-West. The Deputy Speaker position has been allocated to Ben Kalu from the South-East.
Morka said the party is focusing on “national interest, equity, inclusion, a sense of ownership,” and is ensuring “that every region gets a fair share,” reflecting a new prioritization of geographical balance within Nigeria’s political sphere.
Morka also clarified that the APC consulted the majority of the National Assembly members-elect before the announcement, and the decision is not cast in stone but serves as guidance ahead of the election of principal officers of the 10th National Assembly next month.
The APC, holding the majority of seats in both green and red chambers, is currently in a strong position to influence these upcoming elections. The nomination of Senator Akpabio could mark a turning point in the power dynamics of Nigeria’s government, indicating a potential new era of more equitable representation across the nation’s regions.
