After nearly two weeks of sending names of ministerial nominees to the Senate, the upper legislative house withheld confirmation of three ministry nominations Tuesday, citing unfavourable security reports.
Former governors Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, Sani Abubakar Damladi of Taraba State, and Stella Okotekpe of Delta State had their confirmations stopped.
While making the announcement, Senate President Godswill Akpabio stated, “We’ve confirmed only 45 of the 48 names sent to us.” We haven’t confirmed the other three names because we’re currently waiting for the security report.”
Abubakar Momoh, Yusuf Maitama, Architect Dangiwa, Hannatu Musawa, Chief Uche Nnaji, Beta Edu, Doris Aniche, David Umahi, and Nyesom Wike have all been confirmed as minister-designates.
Mohamed Badaru, Ekperikpe Ekpo, Nkiru Onyejiocha, Olubumi Ojo, Uju Kennedy, Bello Mohammed Goroyo, Dele Alake, and Lateef Fagbemi are among the others.
Mohammed Idris, Edu Muhi, Wahid Adebayo, Imma Suleiman, Ali Pate, Joseph Usev, Abubaka Kyari, John Eno, Abdullahi Tijjani Gwarzo, Bosun Tijani, Isiak Salako, Tunji Alausa, Dr Yusuf Tanko Sununu, Adegboyega Oyetola, Atiku Bagudu and Bello Matawalle got their nominations validated also.
Ibrahim Geidam, Simon Lalong, Lola Ade John, Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, Prof Tahir Mamman, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, Senator Alkali Ahmed Saidu, Senator Heineken Lokpobori, Uba Maigari Ahmadu, and Zephaniah have also confirmed their participation.
The exercise began on a tumultuous note when Keyamo’s confirmation hearing was disrupted by a storm.
Darlington Nwakocha, a key officer of the Senate from Abia Central and Minority Whip, raised a constitutional point of order at about 1:45 p.m.
Nwakocha cited Section 88, Subsection 1&2 of the 1999 Constitution in his lengthy argument. He informed senators that Keyamo’s screening and confirmation should be halted until the nominee explains how he spent N52 billion granted by the Ninth National Assembly for 774,000 Special Public Works (SPW) recipients.
Nwakocha claimed Keyamo persistently refused to comply with a series of summons issued by the National Assembly. He stated that Keyamo’s screening and confirmation would be delayed permanently until the difficulties concerning the disbursement of monies or otherwise were resolved.
The chamber was thrown into disarray as soon as Nwakocha finished. Another senator from Abia State and former minority leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe, seconded the motion, requesting that the confirmation be halted immediately.
When Akpabio put the question to a voice vote, those in favour won, but Akpabio refused to rule properly.
Akpabio lost control of the chamber for more than ten minutes, forcing him to stand up to recite specific sections of the Senate Standing Rules.
Senators, unable to let go, called for a division and a head count to determine who supported and opposed the move. Sensing additional difficulties, Akpabio urged Senate President Opeyemi Bamidele to step in. Bamidele swiftly convened a closed-door meeting, following which a decision will be made.
However, as soon as the Senate closed its doors to the media, Akpabio dashed to the Presidential Villa, where he spent almost an hour meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Senators told reporters in confidence that during the meeting between Akpabio and Tinubu, the president pushed on Keyamo’s candidacy and instructed the Senate President to make a smooth transition for him.
According to the senator, the Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin, and the Senate Leader, Bamidele, were also present at the emergency meeting in the Presidential Villa.
Keyamo apologized after the outpouring of rage and protest on the Senate floor. Godiya Akwashiki, a senator from Nasarawa State, pleaded with his colleagues to accept the apologies and let him leave. Keyamo was ordered to take a bow and leave without answering any questions after receiving the apologies.
Meanwhile, Akpabio has pledged to meet with President Tinubu to discuss complaints from South East senators over the mismatch in ministerial appointments.
The Senate president, who spoke at the close of plenary, was responding to a motion that had been withdrawn from the Order Paper.
Tony Nwoye and 14 other senators from the South East geopolitical zone sponsored the resolution titled “Urgent Need to Balance Geo-political Representation in Ministerial Appointment.”
The item could not be considered or a stance adopted after the confirmation hearings for ministerial nominees.
Despite the foregoing, Akpabio stated that he will raise the issue with the President to correct the imbalance.
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