Senator Kabiru Gaya (APC, Kano South) has declared his intention to contest for the office of Deputy Senate President.
Gaya made his intention public in a press briefing on Thursday in Abuja.
Gaya boasted of being a ranking senator, having been in the Senate since 2007.
He said: “I respect all the senators-elect. I am eligible and the most ranking senator from the North-West contesting for the position.
“I am qualified based on ranking because in the Senate we respect ranking. I am eligible and the most ranking senator for the North-West.
“As an architect and as a consultant, my office then, designed the ship house and courts in Abuja and so many other projects like the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) branches across the country.
“I started politics in 1982. I was a member of the leadership from 2007. I was the Deputy Minority Whip and Chairman of many committees and currently the Chairman, Committee on Works.
“And as chairman committee on works, I have gone round 33 states of the federation on oversight. So, I am fully qualified for the position.
“I am also currently the Vice Chairman, Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU), Africa and this is a plus to my CV.”
Gaya said he was unperturbed by the party’s zoning formula which has pitched the seat of deputy senate president to the South.
“We have the Vice President from the South and we are giving the South West the Speaker. So, there is nothing wrong with having President Muhammadu Buhari and deputy senate president from the same zone.
“I do not believe we should go for election divided. I believe the party will sort that out before the election. We should respect ranking and the ability to perform and I believe I can perform,” he said.