Six contenders are jostling for the position of post master general, as the tenure of the incumbent, Mallam Ibrahim Mori Baba, expires next month.
The contestants, who are deputy post masters general, are Osadolor Eboigbodin (Mail Operations); Richard Balami (Special Duties); and Ade Ogun (Engineering and Technical Services).
Others are Chibiri Ndahi (Human Resources Management); Joseph Ariyo (Finance and Investment); and Emmanuel Emem (Counter Operations).
Sources hinted at the weekend that the position has always been filled, based on factors including seniority, qualification and federal character.
The outgoing post master general is from Borno State.
However, signals from the establishment indicated that the principle of federal character, which was put in place since 1985, is being threatened in the scramble for the plum job.
Eboigbobin is from Edo State; Balami is from Borno; Ogun is from Kwara; Ndahi is from Borno; Ariyo is from Ekiti; and Emem is from Benue.
Some of the contestants have alleged bias on the part of the outgoing post master general, accusing him of favouring one of the contestants from one of the states in the Northcentral.
Sources said going by qualification, experience and the principle of federal character, the odds favoured candidates from the Southsouth.
Another source privy to the selection process said the Southsouth had never occupied the position in the 150-year old establishment and since the rotational system was initiated in 1985.
Occupants of the position since 1985 were: Thomas Ike- 1985-1989 (Southeast); Nathaniel Zome- 1989-1994 (Northwest); O. Bamidele-1994-1995 (Southwest); Taiwo Olukolu- 1995-2000 (Southwest); Abubakar Argungu- 2000-2005 (North west); and Ibrahim Mori Baba 2006-date (Northeast).
Eboigbobin is the only contestant from the Southsouth.
Records show that he has served in capacities at the management level in Oyo, Plateau, Anambra, Rivers and Lagos states.