Buhari's favoured candidate for senate president Ahmed Lawan launches he election campaign

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari's apparent favourite candidate to become the senate president Senator Ahmed Lawan has launched his campaign for the position promising to run a bi-partisan National Assembly if elected.

Senator Lawan, 60, the current senate majority leader, who has just been returned as the lawmaker representing Yobe North Senatorial District, is believed to be the favourite to land the plum job as the number three citizen. In 2015, he had been tipped to become senate president by Senator Bukola Saraki out-manoeuvred the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership to clinch the job.

A close ally of President Buhari, Senator Lawan is one of his close confidants and it is believed he will have the full backing of the presidency with his bid. However, Senator Lawan has promised to respect the decision of the APC should the party decide to zone the position away from northeast where he is from.

According to Senator Lawan, despite occasional disagreements, the ability of principal officers to carry everybody along had always been the secret of the legislative chambers being able to deliver meaningfully on their mandate. He added that everything should be done in the ninth senate the interest of the people.

Senator Lawan added: “When we legislate, we legislate for the entire country and therefore we need to remain united and focused. I was in a position for 16 years from 1999 to 2015 before I became part of the ruling party but even as an opposition, we knew where we opposed the government and where we cooperated with them,.

“For instance, will there be any legislator who will oppose any legislation that will enhance the performance of our armed forces or the police to provide security? Whether you are APC or People Democratic Party or Young Progressive Party, we have the same people to serve, so we will work to ensure that we achieve and attain that desired unity within the chamber."

On the relationship between the legislature and the executive relationship, Senator Lawan said while the separation of powers was designed to ensure checks and balances among the arms of government, the ultimate goal was to serve the people. He emphasised that to achieve cordial relationship with the executive, lawmakers ought to work in unison.

It is not yet clear which of Nigeria's geo-political zones the APC will allot the senate president too but it likely to be a straight fight between the northeast, north central and south-south geo-political zones. Other major contenders who have been linked with the senate presidency include Senator Ali Ndume of Borno South, Senator Francis Alimikhena and Senator Ovie Omo-Agege of Delta Central.