APC leaders in the southeast set to demand senate president and SGF from Tinubu

MEMBERS of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from the southeast geo-political zone are demanding that the party's presidential candidate Asiwaju Bola Tinubu  sets aside the positions of senate president and secretary to the federal government to them.

On June 7, the APC held its presidential primary elections in Abuja and Asiwaju Tinubu emerged the winner of the contest. A Muslim from the southwest geo-political zone, he is now looking to pick a northern Christian as his running mate, with the northeast favoured to get the slot.

With jostling in full flow, the southeast zone of the party has set its sight on the positions of senate president and secretary to the government of the federation if Asiwaju Tinubu wins the 2023 general elections. One a top party chieftain in the southeast, said that a delegation was scheduled to meet with Asiwaju Tinubu with their demands when he returns to the country from abroad

“If the southwest has the presidency while both the northwest and northeast are still in negotiating for running mate, it is only fair to allow the southeast take the senate presidency and secretary to the federal government,” he said.

Emmanuel Enekwu, the APC's deputy national chairman (south) and former southeast chairman of the party, said: “I have no knowledge of such demands. The APC has not started allocating offices to any region or persons.  Our interest is how to win elections because you can’t share offices without winning elections.

“We have a presidential candidate that demands that all hands must be on deck. Nobody enjoys any booty or loot before the war. That can only happen after the hostility ends."

Dr Ijeomah Arodiogbu, the southeast APC chairman, added: “I cannot say I am unaware the zone desires some inclusiveness in the incoming administration, however, I have not been consulted on the exact position they are looking at. I believe that the incoming president will be fair enough to consider the zone for some arrangements but we have not asked for the specific positions.”

Okelo Madukaife, the publicity secretary of the APC in Anambra State, said the southeast caucus of the party had scheduled a meeting where a decision would be taken on what should come to the zone. Cajetan Duke, the publicity secretary of APC in Imo State, added that the southeast would not be demanding any position until the party wins the presidential election and a majority of seats in the senate.