Deputy Senate President: Odds favour Alimikhena over Omo-Agege

 

WHEN the 9th session of the Senate is proclaimed by President Muhammadu Buhari tomorrow, two Bendelites, Senate deputy majority whip, Senators Francis Alimikhena (Edo North) and Ovie Omo-Agege (Delta Central) will slug it out for the plum position of Deputy President.

So far, both lawmakers who recently won re-election on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) are the only known contenders for the position which had reportedly been zoned to the South-South geopolitical zone.

The odds, however, seemed to favour Alimikhena, a retired military officer and lawyer who was the only elected APC Senator in the entire South South and South East geopolitical zones of the country in 2015 while Omo-Agege was elected on the platform of Labour Party before defecting to the ruling party.

Again, his performance and records without blemish in the outgoing session coupled with the fact that he is the only ranking Senator from the region also seems to give him an edge over his opponent from Delta State who earned the ire of his colleagues over the forceful stealing of the mace.

Also, the robust and insight contributions to debates on the floor of the Senate, the many bills he sponsored and the recorded constituency projects attracted to his Edo North Constituency in the past four years and his pan-Nigeria disposition as well as a loyal party man put him ahead of OmoAgege in the race to succeed Senator Ike Ekweremadu.

Alimikhena’s ambition, however, seemed to be under threat as some prominent members of the South-South zone of the APC have endorsed the Delta Senator for the number two position in the Senate.

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The APC Vice-Chairman (South-South), Mr. Ntufam Hilliard Eta, and the Zonal Secretary, Mr. David Okumgba argued that the choice of Omo-Agege was based on the zoning formula as the APC National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole is from the same senatorial district with Alimikhena.

In a joint statement by Eta and Okumgba, they noted that it was a good thing that the zone has been given the opportunity by the party to produce the Deputy Senate President for the ninth National Assembly.

They gave reasons for supporting Omo Agege: “It is important to state that our two illustrious sons, Senators Francis Alimikhena from Edo State and Ovie Omo-Agege from Delta State had indicated interest to contest the office of the Deputy Senate President.

“Both of them are eminently qualified for that office as both are ranking Senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“However, considering the current zoning of political offices in our zone whereby Edo State produced the current National Chairman of our great Party (Adams Oshiomhole), and other considerations, it became imperative that our zone supports the candidature of Senator Ovie Omo-Agege for the office of the Deputy Senate President.”