President Muhammadu Buhari has forwarded names of seven Ministerial Nominees to the Senate for Screening and subsequent confirmation. The nominees are Henry Iko from Abia State, who is replacing Uche Ogar, Umana Umana, Akwa Ibom, replacing Godswill Akpabio, Ekuma Joseph, Ebonyi, replacing Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, Goodluck Opiah, Imo, replacing Emeka Nwajiuba, Umar El-Yakub, Kano, replacing Sabo Nanono, Ademola Adegoroye, Ondo, replacing Tayo Alasoadura and Odum Odi, River State, replacing Chibuike Amaechi. The President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan read Buhari’s letter of request.
It will be recalled some of the cabinet members had resigned to pursue their political ambition. President Buhari had prior to the primaries to get the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Governorship, Senatorial and other positions, had in line with section 84(12) of the Electoral Act, asked all the appointees with political ambition to resign. The Section provides that “No political appointee at any level shall be a voting delegate or be voted for at the convention or congress of any political party for the purpose of the nomination of candidates for any election.” President Buhari, in the letter to the Senate yesterday, explained that the confirmation request was in accordance with the provisions of Section 147 subsection 2 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.
