By Charles Adingupu
The battle for the Senate President has begun in earnest as principal Actors engaged in intensive lobbying, political horse-trading and aligning with strange bedfellows in order to emerge as the next Senate President.
So which way would the pendulum swing as the candidates jostling for the exalted seat are eminently qualified?
The New Diplomat provides an analysis of the profile of each of the aspirants running for the Senate presidency.
Orji Uzor Kalu
He was born 21 April, 1960. He is a Nigerian politician and businessman. Orji Kalu is currently a Senator representing Abia North Senatorial District.
He also serves as the Chief Whip of the Senate. He was Governor of Abia State from 29 May 1999 to 29 May 2007.
Kalu is the chairman of SLOK Holding and the Daily Sun and New Telegraph newspapers in Nigeria.
Osita Izunaso
He was born 30th October, 1966 in Onitsha, Anambra State to the family of Late Chief Joseph and Chief Florence Nwamaka Izunaso. He hails from Ohakpu Community in Orlu West local government area of Imo state.
He is a Nigerian senator-elect who in the past represented Imo West (Orlu) senatorial zone.
He is a two-time Senator.
Godswill Akpabio,
Born 9 December, 1962, Akpabio is a Nigerian lawyer and politician.
He is a Senator-elect of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and was a Senate’s Minority Leader in the past.
He was also Governor of Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria from May 29, 2007 to May 29, 2015.
Dave Umahi
Dave Umahi was born 25 July, 1963. He is a Nigerian politician and currently serving as the Governor of Ebonyi State since May 2015.
In 2011, he became Deputy to the then Governor Martin Elechi. Umahi later emerged Governor of Ebonyi state under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
He is retiring to the Senate after serving two successive terms as Governor of Ebonyi state.
