9th National Assembly: Igbo Group Backs Orji Kalu’s Bid For Deputy Senate President

Why Dr. Kalu Orji Is The Best Candidate For Deputy Senate President In The 9th Senate

An Igbo group, Ogene Igbo Support for Equity and Good Governance, has endorsed the former Abia State governor and Abia senator-elect, Dr. Orji Kalu, to become the deputy senate president in the 9th Senate to be inaugurated in June.

Naija News understands that this is coming up just as members of the National Assembly have continued to take swipe at one another over who takes over from the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki.

Currently, the major contenders seem to be Ndume Ali and Ahmed Lawan.

Describing Dr. Kalu as a bridge builder and most qualified for the position, the group urged the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and other senators-elect to support his desire to emerge the deputy senate, president.

National Coordinator of the group, Charles Mbalisi, in a statement released in Abuja, yesterday,  encouraged Dr. Orji to declare his intention as quickly as possible, as he would enjoy massive support from party officials and other colleagues.

Mbalisi said the group respects APC’s decision to zone Senate presidency to North East, but requested that the position of the deputy senate president be zoned to the South East, in order to maintain an equitable balance in the party’s zoning of the leadership of Senate and House of Representatives in 9th Assembly.

He said: “The huge contributions of lgbo leaders in APC, particularly in the last presidential election and other elections in the South East cannot be underemphasized. APC got more votes in 2019 elections as against 2015 elections.

“APC also produced more senators and House of Representative members in South East in 2019 elections, which is a measure of the increase in acceptance of the party in the South East.

“Undoubtedly, Dr. Kalu contributed greatly to that success. Not only that, but he also ensured that APC got impressive votes that helped President Muhammadu Buhari win the 2019 presidential election comfortably.

“He is a bridge builder between the South East and other regions in Nigeria. In other words, he posses the political influence and diplomacy to complement the Senate leadership as a deputy senate president.

“Also, being a former House of Representatives member qualified him in ranking to occupy the position of the deputy senate president.