Senate presidency: S/East senators-elect disown Umahi, back Kalu, others

Senators-elect from the South East have insisted that the zone should produce the next Senate President in the interest of justice and fairness.

Ebonyi State governor and senator-elect, Dave Umahi, who was among the nine contenders for Senate presidency on Friday withdrew from the race and backed Senator Godswill Akpabio from Akwa Ibom State (South South).

But the South East lawmakers yesterday rejected the choice of Akpabio and vowed to support Orji Uzor Kalu or another aspirant from the South East.

They said since the South East was denied presidential ticket of any of the two major political parties in the February 2023 general election, it would only be just if the zone produced the 10th Senate President.

Their position was contained in a communique issued after an executive meeting at the Abuja residence of Senator Ifeanyi Ubah (YPP, Anambra) in Abuja on Sunday.

The senators-elect cautioned the President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu against endorsing a candidate from the South-South without any regard for the South East.