There are signs that President-elect Bola Tinubu has settled for Tajudeen Abbas and Ben Kalu as Speaker and Vice President of the 10th House of Representatives, a move that leaves the North-Central area out of the top six.
It was learned that Abbas, a lawmaker from northwestern Kaduna state, was chosen as the preferred candidate during a meeting held on Friday afternoon at the Defense House, the official residence of the president-elect.
Kalu, a lawmaker from the southeastern Abia state, was chosen to balance what has now become a joint ticket.
Indications surfaced on Friday that Tinubu has also settled for Godswill Akpabio of south-south Akwa-Ibom and Barau Jibrin of northwest Kano state as Senate president and Senate vice president respectively.
With Mr. Tinubu from the southwest and his running mate, Kashim Shettima from the northeast, the presidential offices were expected to be spread across the four remaining geopolitical zones.
However, Mr. Tinubu and his party have now zoned the President of the Senate and the Vice President of the Senate in the northwest, while the South-South and the Southeast now have the President of the Senate and the Vice President of the Senate, respectively. .
As it is, there are still several contenders in the presidential race, but it is unclear if they will agree to step down.
One of the North-central hopefuls told Newslodge on condition of anonymity that he will not resign for anyone.
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He said his consultation with Labor Party leaders Rabiu Kwankwaso, Governor Bala Mohammed and others gives him confidence that he will win the elections scheduled for June 13.
Other hopefuls such as Vice President Idris Wase (Plateau), Yusuf Gagdi (Plateau), Sada Soli (Katsina), Muktar Betara (Borno) Tunji Olawuyi (Kwara), Abubakar Makki (Jigawa), Aminu Jaji (APC, Zamfara), Ado Doguwa (Kano) and Miriam Onuoha (Imo) have yet to react to the development.
In addition, several other legislators have indicated interest in the vice-presidential position. They include Chinedu Ogah (Ebonyi), Adewumi Onanuga (Ogun), Tolulope Akande-Sadipe (Oyo) and Francis Waive (Delta).