APC yet to zone Deputy Senate President seat to S/South ― Concerned APC Caucus

Concerned Caucus of the All Progressive Congress (APC) on Wednesday said the party was yet to zone the position of deputy Senate President to the South-South geopolitical zone contrary to the claim by the former Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Ita Enang.

In a statement issued by leaders of the group, Segun Bello and Sunday Umutu in Abuja, the caucus rejected Enang’s claim that Senator Ovie Omo- Agege, representing Delta Central has been endorsed for the position of Deputy Senate President.

The statement maintained that Enang cannot speak for the APC and can no longer speak for the Presidency since he is no longer the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari

The group backed its position with Section 151 of the 1999 Constitution which states: “The appointment of all special advisers shall cease when the President ceases to hold office, while Section 171 states that the appointment of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and any office or the personal staff of the President shall cease when the President ceases to hold office.”

The Caucus’ statement read: “Our attention has been drawn to the statement of Senator Ita Enang in an interview in 7.00am News of Radio Nigeria on Wednesday, 5th June 2019.

“In the interview, Senator Enang stated that Senator Lawan Ahmad will emerge as Senate President of the 9th Senate while Rt Hon Femi Gbajiabiamila will emerge as Speaker House of Representatives. He went on to state that Senator Ovie Omo-Agege will emerge as Deputy Senate President.

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“Although in the interview, he was referred to as the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, we write to state that he spoke in a personal capacity and expressed his own opinion and certainly not in any way the position of the Presidency.

“It should be noted that his appointment as Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters ceased with the end of the President’s first term on May 29, 2019, as provided in Section 151(3) of the 1999 Constitution (As Amended).

“Therefore, his statement about Senator Ovie Omo-Agege should be seen wholly as a figment of his imagination, because he has probably supported him.

“It must also be noted that All Progressives Congress, APC, nominated Senator Ahmad Lawan and Hon Gbajiabiamila for Senate President and Speaker respectively and not by any individual.

“Senator Enang cannot and could not have spoken for the party in the said interview.

“We wish to state that APC has not zoned the Deputy Senate President to anyone. However, distinguished Senator Francis Alimikhena has been seen as the preferred candidate for the position.”