Reasons Senate ‘Dropped’ El-Rufai, Danladi, Okotete As Ministers

Reasons Senate ‘Dropped’ El-Rufai, Danladi, Okotete As Ministers

Yesterday, the Senate declined to approve the nominations of former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai, former deputy governor of Taraba State Sani Abubakar Danladi, and Stella Okotete from Delta State for positions in the proposed Federal Executive Council (FEC)…CONTINUE READING

Out of the 48 ministerial nominees submitted by President Bola Tinubu, 45 were confirmed by the Senate.

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The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, announced at the conclusion of the session that the three individuals, whose names were not disclosed, were awaiting security clearance.

On July 27, 2023, the deadline set by the Constitution, Tinubu submitted the names of 28 nominees to the Senate, followed by an additional 19 names and two replacements for Kano nominee Mariam Shetty.

Among those confirmed were nine former governors and current members of the National Assembly.

One nominee from Ondo State, Bunmi Tunji-Ojo, a serving member of the National Assembly who faced allegations of forging his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate, was also approved. Some senators defended Ojo, considering him a youthful nominee put forward by the President.

The former minister of state for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, whose nomination was initially contested by lawmakers due to alleged unparliamentary conduct, was also confirmed.

However, it is believed that El-Rufai might have been excluded due to several petitions against him, related to security concerns and controversial public statements that were deemed harmful to “national interest.”

Furthermore, there were suspicions that El-Rufai’s political intentions, including a possible run for the presidency in 2027, were at odds with President Tinubu’s aspirations. Concerns about his loyalty to the party also arose.

On the other hand, Stella Okotete’s nomination was entangled in a power struggle between former Delta State governor Chief James Ibori and some APC leaders in Lagos who supported her nomination.

Issues surrounding Okotete’s educational certificates and her employment at NEXIM bank were raised by petitioners. Additionally, Ibori had reportedly advocated for David Edevbie, a former Delta State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant, as a ministerial nominee. Edevbie had lost in the primaries to the incumbent governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, prompting Ibori and Edevbie to switch to the APC and support the party’s candidate, former Senate Deputy President Ovie Omo Agege, who ultimately lost the election.

While Okotete’s certificates were questioned, Benson Idahosa University confirmed her attendance at the institution. However, unresolved issues at NEXIM bank remained. Okotete’s replacement with Edevbie, who shares her senatorial district and has connections with the state governor, is a possibility.