2023 Election has been won and lost courtesy of INEC mismanagement of the Election. The battle has been shifted to the court. In the coming months, all eyes will be on the Nigeria Judiciary. One fact every Nigerians must be bear in mind is that Courts deal with facts before it not emotions and sentiment. You may have a good case, but The way or manner you presented your case will determine the outcome of the case. As we wait the outcome of the cases in the Court, the battle now is the Leadership of the National Assembly ( Senate and House of Representatives). Who is going to be the Senate President or Speaker of the House of Representatives.

In recent time, many known and unknown groups have been rooting for Senate President to be zoned to South East. Some have argued that Speaker of House of House of Representative is the best bet for South East. A lot of consultations have been going on within and outside APC. The Northwest have made case for their zone, likewise North Central. So the next three months is going to be an interesting one for all the Political Players.

Going by What is obtainable in this current Political dispensation, The President is from the North, while Senate President is from the North two. So it is understandable that President-elect is from South, the Senate President will come from the South. No doubt about that. The question now is which of the remaining Southern part will get the Senate President.

To me, every zone in South Apart from South West deserves a shot at the Leadership of the National Assembly. Many may not like my stand. One thing I learnt in this game as a Graduate and Post Graduate of International Politics is, ”There is no morality in this game. It is all about interest” Forget this offer of National Unity. It is all about Interest of the players at the Field.

I have read and watched many commentators blame South East the way they voted in this election. I must commend South East for the way they voted. Since 1999, they have voted people from other zones and even helped people from other zones to become President. So it is not out of place if they all agreed to vote their own this time. I see nothing wrong in that.

From 1999, South East voted Obasanjo from South West, they voted Obasanjo again against their own Late Odimegwu Ojukwu. In 2007, They voted Yardua from the North, 2011, they did the same thing for Goodluck from South South. So in 2019, they voted Atiku Abubakar from North, though he lost. So voting their own this time. Nobody should mock South East. For the first time, they what is right.

Some have come out to say It is now time to reap where you sowed, and the Southeast, not retrospective over why they are out of the power equation again, are asking Tinubu to reward them with the Senate Presidency at the expense of the well derserving people of Southsouth or North Central for what they call “national unity” reasons. I want to state it clearly that SouthEast never called for Government of National Unity. The idea of National Unity was mooted by Aswiaju Bola Tinubu not SouthEast.

The question now, what is the fate of SouthEast in the Political equation of Nigeria. Southeast People are known for their independent mind and are republicans in nature. Even if you zone Senate Presidency to the Southeast, the Southeast will still NEVER vote for APC in the future. What is the Position of Senate President going to bring to South East. We have had it in the past, within 8 years, we had almost 4 persons starting from Late Evans Enwerem to Late Chuba Okadigbo to Adolphus Wabara to Pius Anyim. In all, South East cannot point one landmark achievement recorded by having their people as Senate President. This is a topic for another day.

As the race for Senate President and speaker of House of Representatives hots up. I see the emergency of Godswill Akpabio as the next Senate President. TINUBU’s camp might likely go with his choice as Senate President. One factor working for Godswill Akpabio here is that he was the first person to step down for Tinubu at Eagle Square during APC National Convention.

In the case of Chief Orji uzor Kalu. He never supported tinubu from day one. His choice was northerner in the person of Ahmed Lawan. He was out there to play the game for Lawan with the likes of Hope uzodimma of Imo State. So this is a battle of titans with different interest.

Those that worked against Tinubu during the Primary. Aswiaju Bola Tinubu later emerged as APC Candidate in the convention and is now President-elect according to INEC Result announced. How Tinubu play a this game of National Unity is upto him.

Bear one thing in mind for those of you shouting South East for Senate President. Do not feel disappointed when Bola Tinubu makes his choice. He does not hate South East. It is all about interest.

The only saving grace Chief Orji Kalu might have is adopting Saraki way. He should Rally around Labour Party senators-elect, PDP senators and some senators loyal to Lawan. With this strategy, he stands a better chance. Anything outside this strategy. He should forget it.

The position of the speaker of House of Representative is a no go area for South East or any southern Part of Nigeria. I am seeing NorthWest likely to fight for top Positions in the National Leadership. The Northwest which is largely fulanis will not be left out in the political distribution of this country. Otherwise, it will be a lost battle for anyone who played that game.

How APC plays its Government of National Unity is upto Tinubu and his camp.

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Paschal Candle, a Public affairs analyst writes from Abuja Nigeria.