Following the inauguration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his vice on May 29, 2023, the quest for Senate Presidency in the South East region has gained momentum. The leadership positions in both chambers of the Nigerian legislature have become a focal point of discussion and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is facing challenges in resolving the matter. The party's candidates are expected to hold key positions in both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
The position of Senate President, the third-highest position in the country, has attracted significant attention. According to the party's zoning arrangement, one of the senators from the South-East or South-South geopolitical zones is likely to be appointed to the position.
Notably, former governors Senator Godswill Akpabio from Akwa Ibom State, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu from Abia State, and Senator Osita Izunaso from the South-East have all expressed their interest in running for the position. Akpabio and his supporters argue that the South-South zone has never held the Senate Presidency during the current administration, while the South-East insists that denying the zone the position would deepen the alleged marginalization of the region. They argue that the South-East has historically been allowed to produce the Senate President whenever the Presidency has moved to the Southwest, emphasizing the need to integrate the region within the party.
Proponents of the South-East's claim argue that allowing the region to produce the next Senate President would strengthen the party's presence in the area. They highlight the region's rejection of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) in past elections and the breakthroughs of the Labour Party, and believe that the APC needs to continue supporting the region since it now controls two states there.
While the competition for the Senate Presidency intensifies between the South-East and South-South, there are indications that Senator Osita Izunaso may emerge victorious if the position is assigned to the South-East. Unlike Kalu, Izunaso has been with the APC since its inception, which makes him more favorable among party stalwarts.
Izunaso, a former journalist and seasoned politician, served as a Special Assistant to former Governor Achike Udenwa on media and information. He later became the APC's first National Organising Secretary. He has a political history in Imo State, where he was elected to the House of Representatives and served as the senator for Imo West from 2007 to 2011. Although he tried to reclaim his Senate seat, he was denied due to a Supreme Court ruling that declared the current Governor Hope Uzodinma as the genuine candidate of the PDP in the election.
In response, Izunaso left the PDP in 2011 to join the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and subsequently followed the party's merger into the APC. He has been actively involved in expanding the APC in Imo State and was elected as the party's senatorial candidate in 2023, winning the Imo West senate election.
Izunaso's chances of securing the Senate Presidency are further boosted by his clean record, as he has no cases with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) or any criminal allegations. Additionally, his close working relationship with Governor Uzodinma of Imo State is seen as a significant advantage. Analysts believe that Uzodinma will leverage his influence and mobilize support for Izunaso, recognizing that his victory would strengthen Uzodinma's chances of re-election in the state's gubernatorial race in November.
It is worth noting that Senator Izunaso was recently appointed as the chairman of the Progressive Governors' Forum (PGF), a platform that facilitates collaboration and policy development among governors elected on the APC
