Chief Whip of the Senate, Orji Kalu, on Tuesday, declared his intention to contest for Senate presidency in the 10th National Assembly.
Kalu, who won re-election to represent Abia North in the Senate, disclosed this while briefing newsmen at the National Assembly.
Ruling All Progressives Congress is maintaining a majority in the Senate, having secured 57 seats.
APC senators interested in the Senate presidency have been lobbying their colleagues to seek their support.
Others who have publicly declared their interest in the plum job, aside from Kalu, are Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom); Sani Musa (Niger); Barau Jibrin (Kano); and Dave Umahi (Ebonyi).
But the final candidates for the position will largely be determined by zoning.
So far, the APC leadership said it has not zoned the Senate presidency.
It’s however believed that the APC is likely to zone the post to the South for power balance, especially after the furore generated by its Muslim-Muslim ticket, especially amongst the Christians.
Kalu insisted that it was his turn to become Senate President, being a ranking lawmaker from the South East.
According to him, “It is my turn to become the Senate President. If I’m elected Senate President, I will be team Nigeria. I’m going to work in every corner of Nigeria.
“I schooled in Maiduguri, Borno State. I started my business in Lagos and spread it across all state capitals. My first name will be team Nigeria, my last name will be team Nigeria.
“Remember, I’m the only former governor who has never changed phone line for more than 20 years ago. I’m still willing to maintain that telephone number to answer all my calls. I’m not going to switch off my phones because I’m Senate President.
“I’m hoping that Nigerians will pray for me to become Senate President because it’s my turn.”