By Emmanuel Aziken,Political Editor

If the contest for Senate President were simply a matter of ranking, Senator Ahmad Lawan simply would have been the only one in the race. He is the longest serving member of the National Assembly in the rank of those elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, the party that is set to form the majority party in the next Senate.

Senator Lawan, a former lecturer, turned  politician was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1999 and re-elected in 2003 before moving up to the Senate in 2007. He again won re-election to the Senate in 2011 before his latest re-election last March. His only competitor in the Senate and nay, National Assembly in terms of political longevity is perhaps Senator David Mark, the outgoing president of the Senate, who is set for his fifth-straight term in the Senate.

Given the avalanche of scandals and stories that circulate around politicians especially in the National Assembly, it is remarkable that Senator Lawan in his 16 year spell in the National Assembly is yet to attract any notoriety to his person.

A selling point in his aspiration has been his ability to cross political borders in his time in the National Assembly. As a member of the House of Representatives and even from the opposition All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, he emerged as one of the people that sold the candidature of the Peoples Democratic Party’s, PDP’s Aminu Masari as speaker and was in the inner power caucus in the Masari House.

He has also to the irritation of some opposition extremists also played a similar role in the David Mark Senate since 2007 but then not to the point of forsaking his political party’s position and platform on issues.

His capacity to criss-cross party boundaries and not attract scandals is one point that his enthusiasts in the race for Senate President have been pushing forward about him.

Senator Lawan’s bid for the job is being backed crucially with the home support of his governor and reportedly by caucuses in the Northwest and Southwest. The support of the Northeast caucus and North-Central caucus, understandably are not his for the taking given competition by some other senators from the two zones. Senator Ali Ndume, Danjuma Goje are believed to be showing interest in the race and so also is the first time senator, Binta Garba, who has ranking experience from the House of Representatives.

However, the solid support for Lawan from the Southwest zone is to be challenged by the near unanimous support his main challenger, Senator Bukola Saraki has from the North-Central leaving both senators to look for advantage in the PPD strongholds of the South-South and the Southeast.

A week ago some Northeast senators-elect had publicly disclaimed the alleged backing they were reported to have given Lawan at a press conference. That situation seemed to have changed last weekend when a senior senator from the region, Senator Abba Ibrahim countered with an endorsement on behalf of the people and government of Yobe State.

“Lawan possesses the required qualities, character and the frame of mind to make a qualitative Senate President. He is energetic, hardworking and possessing progressive values.

“Senator Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan has demonstrated clear commitment to progressive values. He is energetic and hardworking, and he has what it takes to lead the 8th Assembly,” Ibrahim said as he noted that his experience placed him above his peers.

That endorsement was again publicly confirmed by Governor Ibrahim Geidam of Yobe State in a public announcement at the weekend that apparently dismissed insinuations of the governor’s alleged objections to Senator Lawan’s candidacy.

In a statement issued by his press secretary, Abdullahi Bego, the governor implored “all senators-elect to consider Senator Lawan’s experience, his goodwill, capacity and reach and, therefore, support him to be the next president of the Senate.”

The Senate

Dismissing a report that he was opposed to Lawan’s emergence, he said:

“The report was totally false and unfounded. Even before the governor travelled to Saudi Arabia for the lesser pilgrimage, he has worked, made, and continues to make extensive contacts in support of Senator Ahmad Lawan’s quest for the Senate presidency.”

The governor believes that Lawan’s emergence as President of the Senate will serve Nigerians well…”

However, Lawan’s main advantage in the ensuing race is the support he is receiving from the Northwest where it is reported that a number of returning and incoming senators are strongly backing his move.

The endorsement was said to have been articulated at a meeting of the caucus presided over by Senator Abu Ibrahim from Katsina where members threw him up as their favourite.

A source at the meeting disclosed to newsmen that the support was upon Lawan’s determination to act as a facilitator to the change being inspired by the Northwest’s favourite son, Muhammadu Buhari.

“He has promised to render total support for the quality agenda of change of the APC, which the North West has always championed,” the source disclosed.

“The caucus also impressed it on Lawan to support the anti-corruption agenda of President-elect Muhammadu Buhari of which he promised to,” added the senator.

He continued, “You know that out of 109 Senators, Lawan needs just 55 votes to clinch the Senate presidency. With my caucus (Northwest) already guaranteeing him one-third of the required number, it would be an easy ride for him.

“If you add the endorsement he got early in the week from the South West APC caucus in the Senate to what we gave him today (yesterday) it may have nailed the coffin of any aspirant for the position of Senate president in the0 chamber,” he declared.