By David Olalekan.
The South-South Zonal Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has thrown its weight behind the Senator representing Delta Central, Ovie Omo-Agege, as the race for the Deputy Senate Presidency intensifies.
The declaration is perceived to be in tandem with the national leadership of the party who had reportedly zoned the position to the South-South and adopted the Delta senator as preferred candidate.
Also interested in the deputy senate presidency, is Senator Francis Alimikhena who represents Edo North, the same senatorial district with the APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole.
According to a statement released today by the APC Vice-Chairman (South-South), Ntufam Hilliard Eta, the party settled for Omo-Agege because of the current zoning of political offices in the South-South zone.
He explained that as Edo State produced the current National Chairman of the APC, it became necessary that the zone support the candidature of Senator Omo-Agege for the office of the Deputy Senate President.
“The leadership of the South-South Zone is fully in support of Mr. President (Muhammadu Buhari).
“Our zone has been given the opportunity by our great Party to produce the Deputy Senate President for the Ninth National Assembly and we are thankful.
“It is important to state that our two illustrious sons, Distinguished 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”, he said.