As Nigerians wait patiently for May 29 handover date, there are intense battle among APC senators over who take take over the mantle of leadership from Senate President, David Mark.

In fact, two senators from the north central zone have indicated interest in the highly revered seat.

They included former governors of Benue and Kwara States, George Akume and Bukola Saraki.
According to National Mirror.  

Ahead of the inauguration of a new government on May 29, under the leadership of President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), a fierce battle may have begun between Senate Minority leader and former governor of Benue State, George Akume, and the senator representing Kwara Central Senatorial District, Bukola Saraki, over who occupies the exalted position of the Senate President.

This battle follows the zoning of the position of the Senate President to North Central geo-political zone of the country by the All Progressives Congress at the meeting over how to allocate top political offices to the different zones.

Although Akume has already been tipped for the position, some key party leaders are expressing their preference for Saraki. The choice of Saraki, it was gathered, was informed by the enormity of his sacrifice for the party’s success at the polls.

With the victory of General Muhammadu Buhari (North West) and Professor Yemi Osinbajo (South West), some of the top positions left to be allotted are Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives and their deputies.
Other positions are the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), and the Chief of Staff. Also, in consideration are the party’s national chairman which is presently occupied by a South- South personality while the party’s national secretary is occupied by a Northerner.

Prior to the presidential election, the party had considered the option of rewarding the North-Central with the Senate Presidency and the South East with the Speaker. The Secretary to the Federal Government or the Chief of Staff is reserved for the South-South.

However, with the presidential election over, the party leadership may no longer be disposed to the earlier arrangement as one of the National Working Committee members said that, “it would amount to robbing Peter to pay Paul.”

The party leader from the North-East who does not want his name in print argued that: “How can the party reward the zones that worked against the party and our presidential candidate with juicy positions while the zones that delivered the party are allocated mere deputies.

I am sure the party will reward hard work.” APC in South-South returned only one Senator in Edo North while South- East returned two members of the House of Representatives from Imo State. PDP also posted massive victory in North-Central where it won states like Plateau and Nasarawa.
Meanwhile, the leadership of the party is scheduled to meet in Abuja after the Easter break to continue with the discussion on power sharing.