Abia North Senator-elect, Orji Kalu, has told the leadership of All Progressives Congress (APC) to make him Deputy Senate President or he would contest for Senate presidency.
Kalu said this on Wednesday while speaking with journalists at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
His interest in the top Senate office adds to the troubles of the APC which is currently going through a cold war in its selection for
Kalu said: “I am a very loyal party man. The party has zoned the senate presidency position to the North-East and I want to respect the party’s will but the second position is what we are not going to allow to leave the South-East.
“So, as far as I am concerned, in the South-East, I am going to run openly on the floor of the House for the position of Deputy Senate President.
“I am not going to listen to the party neither will I listen to anybody. Nobody that wants to be the Deputy Senate President is more loyal than I am to the party.
“I have suffered for the party and have been called by Nigerians to come out. I want the party to respect the will of every other person and I am committed to democracy and contesting on the floor of the House.”
Besides Article 50 of the Constitution and Article One, which he said gives lawmakers the right to elect their principal officers, Kalu reasoned with the APC that “if justice must prevail, you have to bring the Senate President from the North-East and you bring the Deputy Senate President to the South-East.”
He added: “The chairman of the party is from South-South. The President is from North-West. The Vice-President is from South-West and also the Senate President will come from North-East.
“Whether it is Senators Ahmed Lawal or Ali Ndume, this will be decided on the floor of the House.”
