Contrary to the speculation making the rounds that he has withdrawn from the race for the position of Deputy Senate President, former Abia State Governor and Senator-elect, Orji Uzor Kalu, on Monday said that he is still in the race.
The National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Lanre Onilu, had on Monday issued a statement that the National Working Committee has formally adopted Senator Ovie Omo-Agege as the party’s candidate for the position of Deputy Senate President.
Kalu had, after a closed-door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, said that the President only adopted the candidacies of the duo of Senator Ahmad Lawan and Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila for the positions of Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives.
He noted that the implication of endorsing Lawan and Gbajabiamila was that “anyone is free to contest for other principal positions.”
In a statement issued by his media office and signed by Ken Cole, the former governor noted that as a staunch supporter of President Buhari and a loyal and committed member of the APC, he (Kalu) would always abide by the decisions of the President and highly respected members of the National Working Committee (NWC).
He, however, said the speculation of the formal endorsement of Omo-Agege was the handiwork of selfish elements in the party who ware self-serving and desperate to cause disharmony among party stakeholders.
Kalu said, “Ahead of tomorrow’s inauguration of the 9th national assembly and election of principal officers, politicians have started deploying different antics to satisfy their ambitions.
“One of such is a statement credited to National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mallam Lanre Onilu claiming that President Muhammadu Buhari and the NWC of the party have formally adopted Senator Ovie Omo-Agege as the party’s candidate for the position of Deputy Senate President.
“I hold the President in high esteem as well as the National Chairman of our great party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and other members of the NWC and as such, I will not disobey any formal pronouncement by them.
“However, I am still in the race to become Deputy Senate President because the President and the NWC have not adopted any candidate and as such the contest is open to all members of the party, who have the capability.
“ I have the political dexterity, leadership qualities and goodwill to complement the efforts of the Senate President in actualizing the objectives of the legislature in support the efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari in taking Nigeria to greater heights.
“Leadership positions in the 9th Senate should be given to people who have the will to support the agenda of the APC while not deviating from the ideals of democracy.
“As I continue to mobilize support for the position of Deputy Senate President, I commend the President, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and other stakeholders of the party for their support.
“Come tomorrow by the special grace of God and to the admiration of APC members and Nigerians at large, I will emerge as Deputy Senate President in the 9th national assembly”.
Kalu who appealed to the leadership of the APC to give a level playing ground for all contenders for the position of Deputy Senate President, who are APC members, insisted that he is still in the race except otherwise advised by the President or the party’s highest decision-making body.
Also speaking about his resolve to contest for the position of Deputy Senate President for the Ninth Senate, the Senator representing Kano South, Kabiru Gaya, told reporters in Abuja that he is still in the race to clinch exalted position.
Gaya said that despite the endorsement of Senator Ovie Omo-Agege by the APC leadership for the position of Deputy Senate President, his chances of emerging as DSP was very bright.
He said. “This is not my first time of contesting election. Tomorrow will make it the fourth time and by the grace of God, it will be peaceful.
“I’m still in the race. I will contest with whoever that would also contest the position of the DSP tomorrow.
“Democracy is actually game on number. Whoever has the highest number would win.”
Meanwhile, Senate Deputy Minority Leader, Senator Emmanuel Bwacha, has said that Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senators would speak on the floor of the Senate.
He told reporters in Abuja that there is dignity in silence assuring that PDP Senators would speak as a family.
He said, “There is dignity in silence and there is mischief in noise-making. So we maintain a dignified silence because we want a 9th Assembly that will be rancour free.
“We speak as a family, speak as friends that is our tradition; we speak as a family, we are not divided.
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