As the Senate prepares to resume its sitting, there is a palpable sense of anticipation among senators and political observers alike regarding the selection of new majority and minority leaders, News About Nigeria reports.
The leadership of both the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been engaged in behind-the-scenes maneuvering, adding intrigue and excitement to the proceedings.
According to reports, Senators Michael Opeyemi Bamidele of the APC from Ekiti and Aminu Tambuwal of the PDP from Sokoto are the favored candidates to emerge as the majority and minority leaders, respectively.
However, it is worth noting that Senator Ali Ndume of the APC from Borno and Senator Adamu Aliero of the PDP from Kebbi have also expressed their interest in the majority and minority leadership positions.
The vacant eight principal positions in the Senate, which include majority leader, deputy majority leader, chief whip, deputy chief whip, minority leader, deputy minority leader, minority whip, and deputy minority whip, are expected to be filled by the ruling APC and the minority caucus.
The APC is expected to nominate candidates for the majority leader, deputy majority leader, chief whip, and deputy chief whip positions, while the PDP, as the major opposition party, is slated to produce the minority leader and deputy.
However, the nominations are subject to the internal affairs of the respective political parties with the majority of seats in the Senate.
The contest for these crucial positions has caused disquiet among senators from both majority and minority parties.
The APC, in particular, has yet to finalize its nominations, and tensions have arisen over the push by some lawmakers from the South West to secure the majority leader position, which senators from the North argue could further polarize the Red Chamber.
Against this backdrop, meetings have taken place among the APC leadership, Bamidele, and Ndume, but no consensus has been reached thus far.
The party is expected to take into account factors such as regional balance and the endorsement of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who himself was recently anointed by the party for his position.
Meanwhile, in the PDP camp, a fierce battle is brewing over the minority leader position. The loss of the presidential election and lingering internal crises within the party have heightened the stakes. Aminu Tambuwal, once positioned for the Senate presidency, is now being pushed by PDP stakeholders to assume the role of minority leader.
However, former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, who has his own aspirations for influence within the Senate, is rallying against Tambuwal’s bid.
