The anxiety generated by the suspense of where the All Progressives Congress (APC) would zone the presidency of the Senate to has been finally laid to rest with the declaration by the president-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) that the legislators should be allowed to choose their leaders themselves.

In a true display of rare statesmanship and impartiality, he also made it clear that he has not anointed any candidate for the position of Senate president and will willingly work with any Senate leadership irrespective of their geo-political origin.

With his clear statement on the candidacy, he has shown that he is in support that all interested senators should be allowed to contest for the slot, irrespective of their zones. By so doing, he has set the ball rolling for all qualified aspirants to test their popularity.

Senators who were hitherto cautious of supporting certain candidates because they were afraid to step out of the agenda of the party, which was said to have preferred the North Central to produce the next Senate president, can now exercise their rights and go for candidates of their choices without fear of repercussion.

Those on the list for the plum position are Senators George Akume from Benue State (North Central), Ahmad Lawan from Yobe State (North East) and Bukola Saraki, Kwara State (North Central.)

All these candidates are qualified for the job but only one can get to that position. In order of ranking, legislative experience and antecedents, the criteria set by the president-elect based on his anti-corruption stance, has disqualified some candidates, while setting others ahead.

It is clear that it is now a race based on pure merit and popularity. Merit encompasses ranking status according to the Senate Rules which gives precedence to the most returned senator, as well as other qualities.

The president-elect has also been consistent in making it clear that he would prefer candidates without blemishes and baggage such as corruption cases to hold positions under his administration.

Senator George Akume is one of the contenders from the North Central. A two-time governor of Benue State, he is presently the minority leader of the Senate. He was able to mobilise massive votes for the APC from the state in the last presidential election and the party won the governorship seat in the state in the April election.

Sen Bukola Saraki is also a two-time governor of Kwara State. He was elected in 2011 and re-elected in the March election. He is a strong member of the nPDP power bloc in the APC. He was also able to deliver his state to the APC with overwhelming votes in the last elections.

For Senator Lawan, he has not been a chief executive of any state but his antecedents put him in a good place with Buhari's expectation. The fact that he is not linked to any controversy even after several years in the National Assembly is a plus. After serving in the House of Representatives before moving up to the Senate, he has gathered enough legislative experience along the way.

A well-read scholar with a Ph.D, he is presently the most ranking senator and does not have any corruption case.

In addition, the argument that the North East has been marginalised for long, with the highest position attained in the legislature being that of the deputy speaker in the person of Hon Usaman Bayero Nafada in the 6th assembly, he may be able to scour votes based on sympathy.

But even as bad as the record is, the senator has not shown any desperation to be the Senate president; a quality of a good team player.

Another factor that may also tilt the Senate presidency towards Lawan, is that within the party, the Congress for Progressives Change (CPC) power bloc has produced the president-elect, Gen Muhammadu Buhari and the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) wing has produced the vice president, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, while still trying to swing the speakership of the House of Representatives.

In all of these, the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) has not been adequately compensated for its consistency, steadfastness and faithfulness in ensuring the political success of the APC in the region.

Now that the opposition has found itself in a turn-around situation, it is time to compensate the region that has been consistent in the opposition game. The zone has been a strong opposition force in the country at large and the North East in particular, with Borno and Yobe States consistently in opposition and many have argued that the presidency of the Senate will be a worthy reward for consistency.

Now that the die is cast, it is left to the senators to decide among themselves, how history will be recorded with regards to the 8th Assembly.