Majority of senators back my deputy senate president bid – Kalu

Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo, Lagos

Former Governor of Abia state and Senator -elect, Orji Uzor Kalu, says majority of senators support his aspiration to become the deputy senate president in the 9th Senate.

Speaking with airport correspondents at a private terminal at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Kalu explained that he was qualified to be the deputy senate president having served as a House of Representatives member and a two-time governor.

According Kalu, Section 60 and Section 1of the constitution makes it clear that members of the National Assembly shall elect their principal officers, saying he will use that section to run for the deputy senate president position.

He said it will be impossible to zone the deputy senate president position to the North West, saying it will be contested for on the floor of the Senate.

While acknowledging the supremacy of the party, Kalu said there should be no injustice in picking principal officers of the party and that the positions should be zoned accordingly.

“Our party is supreme, our chairman is a gentleman and President Buhari is a listening president, if justice must be done.

You bring the senate president from the North East, then you bring the deputy from the South East, the chairman from South South, the president from North West, since the vice is from the South West.

“For me, there are three sets, the Igbo, Yoruba and Hausa. I will get the deputy senate president.

Buhari said he will address injustice and this is part of injustice, we are going to be loyal to the party and the country. It is going to be an open market for PDP and APC and we will shop for the best,” he added

Kalu urged that positions should be properly zoned to the six geopolitical zones to avoid cracks in the party, warning that the senate and deputy senate president positions should come from APC.