PDP senators stage walkout, as Senate confirms Amaechi, 17 others as ministers

The confirmation of ministerial nominees yesterday ended in a rowdy session, as PDP senators staged a walkout.

This followed disagreement among senators, as federal lawmakers from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the report of the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, which recommended that Rotimi Amaechi, the former Rivers State Governor, should not be confirmed as a minister, since the nominee had gone to the Court of Appeal to challenge the content of the petition and the White Paper of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry.

However, APC senators asked the upper chamber to dismiss the committee’s report, saying since the matter was already in court, the Senate should go ahead to confirm the Rivers nominee.

But their PDP counterparts would have none of that, pointing out that there is a moral burden on President Muhammadu Buhari if Ameachi is appointed as minister without being acquitted by a court of law over corruption allegations.

On sensing that they would have their say and not their way, PDP senators staged a walkout, leaving APC senators to complete the nomination.

This is the first time in the 8th Senate that the PDP would stage a walkout during plenary.

However, the 17 nominees earlier confirmed before the rowdy session include: Adamu Adamu (Bauchi) Professor Anthony Gozie Anwuka (Imo), Okechukwu Enelamah (Abia) , Muhammadu Musa Bello (Adamawa) and  Aisha Abubakar (Sokoto).

Also confirmed were: Khadija Bukar Abba Ibrahim(Yobe),  Claudius Daramola (Ondo), Geoffrey Onyeama (Enugu), Brigadier Mohammed Dan-Ali (Zamfara), James Ocholi (Kogi), Zainab Ahmed(Kaduna), Mustapha Shehuri (Borno), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri (Bayelsa)  Isaac Adewole (Osun), Usani Usani Uguru (Cross River), Abubakar Bwari Bawa (Niger) and Adebayo Shittu (Oyo).

Addressing journalists immediately after the walkout, Akpabio said it was unfortunate that Saraki towed the path of APC senators, adding that staging a walkout was their only way of expressing their dissatisfaction with the process.

He, however, played down the issue of PDP senators turning their backs against the Senate President, explaining that since he was elected unopposed, the issue of supporting him does not arise.

“We were shut out when we wanted to react to the report when it was laid. There was a little bit of something, we don’t think it is in conformity with morality.

“Once a case is before a competent court of law, any action on that matter is subjudice and the committee was able to establish that the issues that were brought against the nominee are already issues that were adjudicated upon by the court of Appeal and other courts of competent jurisdiction”, he said.

It also emerged yesterday that eight of the 11 members of the Committee signed the Committee’s report.

Samuel Anyanwu, chairman of the Committee,  (PDP, Imo East) revealed that while Senator Olaka Nwogu (PDP, Rivers South East) abstained since he is one of those against the Amaechi’s nomination, Binta Garba (APC, Adamawa North) declined in line with her party’s decision, adding that another APC senator, Muhammed Shitu travelled out of the country.

APC senators who signed the report include:Bala Na’Allah, Deputy Senate Leader and Vice Chairman of the Committee, Dino Melaye, Senate Spokesperson,  and Tayo Alasoadura.

Those who signed for PDP include its chairman, Samuel Anyanwu, Yele Omogunwa, Peter Nwaoboshi, Jeremiah Useni and Obinna Ogba.

Meanwhile, the Presidency has commended the Senate for successfully confirming the nominees. Ita Enang, Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate) who spoke to newsmen immediately after the exercise, also praised members of the opposition for arguing their case with maturity, without derailing legislative activities.

He noted that with the confirmation of the nominees, it was obvious that APC senators were united.

OWEDE AGBAJILEKE