There are indications that
senators belonging to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and those belonging
to the All Progressives Congress (APC) are preparing for a showdown over the
confirmation of some ministerial nominees.
The ministerial screening came to an end yesterday,
October 28, and after the screening, the PDP Senate caucus held a meeting where
they reportedly took a position against the confirmation of Rotimi Amaechi,
Vanguard reports.
A source alleged that they vowed to withdraw their
support for the Senate President Bukola Saraki should he force Amaechi’s
confirmation.
Amaechi is in the bad books of the PDP for his role in
the defeat of the former ruling party, PDP in the 2015 general elections.
The PDP caucus are also against
the confirmation of the ministerial nominee from Cross River state, Usani
Uguru. This is because during his screening, he said “God forbid” to a question as to his membership of the PDP.
After their meeting which lasted for just thirty
minutes, the PDP senators refused speaking to newsmen.
However, some who spoke on the condition of anonymity
said the meeting resolved that before Amaechi’s confirmation, the Senate ethics
committee report must be considered.
One of the sources also said the PDP senators resolved
not to allow Usani Uguru to be confirmed today.
It was gathered that another meeting of the PDP caucus
would be held before the confirmation.
Meanwhile, APC senators are said to have scheduled a
caucus meeting this morning before commencement of plenary where they will be
fine-tuning their strategies to push through all the nominees.
After his screening was deferred
twice, the former Rivers state governor was finally screened on Thursday,
October 22 by the Senate and the exercise left PDP senators alleging betrayal by the APC.
Recall that during Amaechi’s screening, the PDP
senators refused to ask him any question. They resolved not to consider
Amaechi’s nomination unless the report of the Senate committee on ethics and
privileges on the petitions filed against the former Rivers State governor was
brought forward for consideration first.
The confirmation process of the
ministerial nominees is expected to hold today. The ruling of the Senate
President would be final and can only be challenged when a senator calls for a
division and it is at this point that PDP senators may challenge whatever
decision Saraki takes on Amaechi and Uguru.
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Source: Naij.com
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