AS the Senate prepares to confirm the remaining 18 ministerial nominees, today, following the conclusion of their screening yesterday, senators of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, have told the Senate President, Bukola Saraki that the exercise can only be carried out if the report of Samuel Anyanwu – led Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions on Rotimi Amaechi, is considered.
The opposition senators insisted that anything short of their demand would not be acceptable today, putting the Senate President in a difficult situation now.
At the resumed sitting this morning, the PDP Senate Caucus, speaking through the Deputy Minority Leader, Senator Biodun Olujimi, PDP, Ekiti South, said it was necessary that the Senate tabled the Anyanwu report for consideration before going into the confirmation of the nominees.
Olujimi, who raised a point of order, under Order 43 of the Senate Standing Rule, told the Senate President to suspend all the processes leading to the confirmation of the ministerial nominees until the consideration of the report.
But she was, however, ruled out of order by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, who said the Senate would first handle the screening of nominees for appointments as federal commissioners of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
He said the issue raised by the senator would be handled when the Red Chamber goes into ministerial confirmation.
Among the 19 minister nominees listed on the Senate Order Paper for confirmation today, Amaechi’s name is the last, fueling speculation that the former Rivers State helmsman may have difficulty scaling the process.
At the moment, the Senate is screening the nominees for the INEC jobs.