A source close to the former Vice President told the New Telegraph that it was one of the reasons that, he (Atiku) visited the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari at the Defence House in Abuja last week
But the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Vice Chairman, North East, Engr. David Lawal said the demand is being made by everybody from the zone.
According to Lawal, the demand of the Senate Presidency to the North East is the wish of every member of the party.
Atiku, who last week visited the President-elect at the Defence House had told journalists after a closed door meeting with Buhari that the meeting was personal.
But the source, who preferred anonymity posited that every visit to the President-elect comes with a demand and Atiku’s demand among others was that the Senate Presidency should be zoned to the North East.
According to the source, Atiku reminded the President-elect that it is only his zone that has not got anything among those that contested for the presidential ticket of the party last year December.
Atiku, from North East was one of the five persons that contested for the APC Presidential ticket. Others were: President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (North West), Senator-Elect, Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso (North West), Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah (North Central) and governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha (South East).
While the North West has clinched the Presidency, the South East is demanding for the slot of Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), with North East and North Central demanding for the slot of the Senate Presidency from the national leadership of APC.
Adamawa APC had also visited Buhari at the APC Presidential Campaign Office to make some demands from the President-elect.
According to a source at the meeting, the Adamawa APC chairman and Senator-Eect, Hon. Binta Masi Garba is among those contesting for the post of Senate President from the North East.
Others who are interested in the slot of Senate President from the North East are: Senator, Ali Ndume (Borno), Senator Bukka Abba Ibrahim (Yobe), Senator Danjuma Goje (Gombe) and Senator Ahmed Lawan (Yobe). All the Senators are ranking Senators, therefore qualified by the senate rules to hold the post of Senate President. Hon. Garba is a two time member of the House of Representatives before her election into the Senate.
- New Telegraph