TheCable

David Umahi, outgoing governor of Ebonyi state, says he will run for the office of senate president if the All Progressives Congress (APC) zones the position to the south-east.

Speaking with reporters in Abakaliki, Ebonyi state capital, on Wednesday, Umahi said the national assembly should amend its rules because the legislative arm needs the best.

Section 3 of the senate standing rules provides that a senator-elect can seek the position of senate president if elected at least once before to the upper legislative chamber or was previously in the house of representatives.

Umahi, soon to be a first-term senator, called on the APC to zone offices of the senate president and speaker to the south-east and north-west, respectively.

“Miracle is when God sets aside rules and breaks protocols. I’m asking the APC leadership, the national assembly leadership to set aside the rules so that we can get the best for the leadership of the national assembly,” he said.

“If the APC family zones the senate presidency to the south-east, I am indicating interest on the platform that I have been in public service for the past 16 years, so you can rightly say that I understand administration and when you have administered a state which is more complex more than any other position other than that of the presidency.

“I want to put myself forward and I plead with the national assembly to amend the rules. We should be looking for the best. Anyone elected into the national assembly is the best but let God be allowed to choose. We need to elect a leadership that will rebuild the nation.

“I put myself forward without prejudice to whatever is the will of God and the wish of our party leadership, the president-elect and vice-president-elect. I will not go against their wishes but as a human being and out of conviction, I put myself forward subject to zoning the senate president to south-east.”