Former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi has been confirmed alongside others as ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
As expected, his confirmation threw up arguments and counter-arguments among the senators which led to the PDP senators staging a walk-out.
Saraki asked the chairman of the Ethics, Privileges and Public petitions committee, Senator Samuel Anyanwu to present the report on petition against Amaechi.
Presenting the report, Anyanwu said his committee was unable to recommend the consideration of Amaechi’s confirmation as there was a court case on the matter.
Not satisfied with the report, the Senate Leader Ali Ndume moved a point of order (53), saying the committee lacks the power to make any recommendation as the matter was before the court.
But Akpabio refused to second the motion; rather, he insisted that the rules of the Senate must be adhered to.
“I want us to follow our rules and not our sentiment. The leader is moving the motion to shut down the debate,” he said.
After Akpabio spoke, Senator George Thompson Sekibo (PDP, Rivers East) took to the floor and recommended that the confirmation of Amaechi be suspended.
However, BabajideOmoworare (APC, Osun East) opposed Sekibo, saying the recommendations of the committee can be amended, and seconded the motion by Ndume.
Senator BiodunOlujimi (PDP, Ekiti South) said: “Mr. President from all indications, we have been shutdown. Mr. President there is a moral burden not only on us but President MuhammaduBuhari.”
After she spoke, all the PDP Senators walked out of the chamber in protest but the Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu stayed behind.
Senator Barnabas Gemade (APC, Benue) then suggested that they carry on the confirmation of Amaechi.
Saraki put a question on the report of the petition against Amaechi and the senators unanimously voted against it. Amaechi was eventually confirmed.
Others confirmed yesterday include Adamud Adamu (Bauchi), Prof Anthony Anwuka (Imo), Okechukwu Enelamah (Abia), Muhammadu Bello (Adamawa), Ms. Aisha Abubakar (Sokoto), Khadija Bukar Abba (Yobe), Claudius Daramola (Ondo) and Geoffrey Onyeama (Enugu).
The rest are M. Dan-Ali (Zamfara) Barrister James E. Ocholi( Kogi), Zainab Ahmed (Kaduna), Mustapha Shehuri (Borno), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri (Bayelsa), Prof Isaac Adewole Folorunsho (Osun), Pastor Usani Usani Uguru (Cross River), Abubakar Bwari Bawa (Niger) and Barrister Adebayo Shittu (Oyo).
Earlier, the Senate confirmed Chris Ngige (Anambra), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Babatunde Fashola (Lagos), Abdulrahman Dambazau (Kano), Aisha Alhassan (Taraba), Ogbonnaya Onu (Ebonyi), Kemi Adeosun (Ogun), Abubakar Malami (Kebbi), Hadi Sirika (Katsina), Suleiman Adamu (Jigawa), Solomon Dalong (Plateau), Ibe Kachikwu (Delta), Osagie Ehanire (Edo), Audu Ogbeh (Benue), Udo Udo Udoma (Akwa Ibom) and Lai Mohammed (Kwara)
Others are Amina Mohammed (Gombe), Ibrahim Usman Jibril (Nasarawa), Anthony Onwuka (Imo), Muhammadu Bello (Adamawa).
Saraki thanked his colleagues and said the nominees have the capacity to contribute towards the development of the country.
The Senate President had put to the senate, comprising of the APC senators to rejected or accept the ethics Committee report which was duly rejected. His nomination afterwards was confirmed by the Senate.
Meanwhile, the Senate earlier today confirmed all the INEC appointments sent by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Those confirmed are Prof. Mahmood Yakubu (INEC Chairman) Amina Zakari (Jigawa) Dr. Antonla Okoosi[Kogi], Baba Arfo[Borno], Dr. Mohammed Mustafa[Edo], Soyebi Solomon[Ogun].
First to appear before the Senate was Mr Solomon who advocated for electronic voting as a means of eliminating errors and overcoming logistics bottlenecks.
He expressed the view that the use of card readers must be reviewed for better future use, adding that INEC should train and re-train staff on the use of new technologies introduced by the commission.
He also noted that politicians must adhere strictly to stipulated rules.
On the other hand Dr. Mustafa insisted that the role of technology is irreversible in the conduct of elections.
While Amina Zakari said that INEC needs to be more transparent in its dealings with members of the public, Mr. Arfo believes the role of INEC is key in the conduct of primary elections.
The INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu said that there is need to consolidate on the successes of the 2015 elections.
“There are challenges with the use of the card readers but it is the way to go. Jega has done a marvelous job and I will consolidate on his achievements. My long term goal is to conduct elections where Nigerians will vote seamlessly.”
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