Why Ekweremadu Was Not Allowed to Preside Over Ministerial Screening

The Upper Chamber on Wednesday, October 21, said its Deputy President, Ike Ekweremadu, was not allowed to preside over the screening of ministerial nominees because he is of the opposition party.


Senate Leader Mohammed Ali Ndume revealed this in an interview with reporters at the National Assembly yesterday. He, however, promised that
former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi will be screened.

Ndume said contrary to assumptions, the Senate has seven weeks within which to conclude the screening and confirmation of the 36 ministerial nominees.

Asked why the Senate suspended plenary yesterday because of Senate President Bukola Saraki’s appearance before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Ndume said: “We were thinking that the lower court (CCT) would cancel the sitting but it did not.

“The Senate President had to be at the tribunal by 10.00am. He is the presiding officer. This is an extraordinary time because we are screening ministers that are predominantly of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

So, that was why we said this screening should continue with the Senate President presiding. “This is not a normal day because we are screening APC nominees of the Federal Republic of Nigeria."