As the lobbying for the position of Senate president heats up, the chairman of the Senate Committee on National Planning, Senator Barnabas Gemade, yesterday said he is backing Senator George Akume to become the next Senate president.

In a statement made available to LEADERSHIP yesterday, Gemade, who represents Benue North East Senatorial District, described Akume as highly suited for the job, adding that he will be the highest ranking senator from the North Central geo-political zone in the eighth National Assembly.

The senator explained that contrary to some “mischievous and unfounded rumours” making the rounds in some parts of Benue State that he is against Akume’s ambition, he is solidly behind Akume’s candidature for the office of Senate President.

He said the insinuation is “baseless and an absolute falsehood and should be disregarded in its entirety,” adding that “some people who lost election were likely labouring to sow a seed of discord in the All Progressives Congress (APC) by peddling unfounded rumours.”

The statement reads in part, “For the avoidance of doubt, I hereby reiterate that if our party, the APC zones the office of the Senate presidency of the 8th National Assembly to the North Central zone, Senator George Akume who is the highest ranking senator in the zone should be its choice”.

“Let it be known, therefore, that as a loyal member of our party, I am in complete agreement with the decision of the party and will abide by it.”