Politics
‘Senate Did Its Best In Screening Of Ministerial Nominees’
Senator Kabiru Gaya (APC-Kano South) has said that the 9th Senate did its best in the just concluded screening of 43 ministerial nominees sent to it by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Gaya, the Chairman, Senate Committee on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said this in an interview with newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja.
The lawmaker who was asked on his view about the perception by some Nigerians that the just concluded screening was more of “bow and go”, said that most of the nominees were former lawmakers and former ministers, who were qualified for the positions.
Gaya, however, said that the exercise would have been better if portfolios were attached to the list of the nominees.
“Those are the views of Nigerians and I agree with them, but you remember that most of them were former minister and former house of representative members and former senators who are legible to be ministers.
“Anybody who is a senator or a member house of representative is qualified to be a minister.
“We did the best we could have done in term of the screening but the exercise would have been done better if we have the portfolios attached to the list of the nominees.
“For instance, if a nominee is to be minister of works or education, then we will drill him on educational sector.
“If a nominee is to be minister of justice, we will drill him in the area of laws of Nigeria, but the nominees were sent to us without portfolios.
“We believe that in the future, the president will add their portfolios,” he said.
Gaya also said that the Senate President Ahmed Lawan was doing his best in providing effective leadership.
He also pledged that his committee would work with the House of Representatives to review the Electoral Act as soon as possible “once the bill is resent to the National Assembly by the president”.
During a press conference held in Owerri, the coalition called the campaign a “dangerous and shameful display” designed to distract the public from the governor’s performance in office.
The CSOs directly linked the Greater Imo Initiative (GII) —the group that made the allegations on September 4, 2025—to Governor Uzodimma, describing the group as his “mouthpiece and attack dog.”
“Every word spoken against INEC was spoken on his behalf.
“By falsely alleging that Professor Yakubu has an alliance with Dr. Amadi to compromise the 2027 elections, Uzodimma has not only maligned a man of proven integrity but also assaulted the very foundation of our democracy”, said Dr Agbo Frederick, speaking for the coalition.
The coalition described Professor Yakubu as a “beacon of electoral professionalism” and called the attempt to soil his reputation “defamatory and a national security risk.”
They also defended Dr. Amadi, a “respected development scholar,” stating that the governor’s accusations were “laughable, desperate, and dangerous.”
The CSOs see the motive behind the campaign as an attempt to “silence the dissent, intimidate the opposition, and divert attention from the governor’s abysmal record in office.”
The coalition issued four key demands to Governor Uzodimma: An immediate retraction of the false and defamatory allegations against Professor Mahmood Yakubu and Dr. Chima Amadi.
- A public apology to both men within seven days, to be published in at least three national newspapers and broadcast on major television networks.
- An end to diversionary tactics and proxy propaganda.
- A renewed focus on governance, including addressing insecurity, unemployment, and poverty in Imo State.
The CSOs warned that failure to comply would force them to “review our position with a view to seeking legal redress from Governor Uzodimma for defamation, false accusation, and reckless endangerment of lives.”
“Governor Uzodimma must be reminded that he did not find himself in the seat of power to chase shadows.
“We call on all Nigerians to reject Uzodimma’s diversionary antics as they are nothing short of desperate plots by a government terrified of accountability”, the statement concluded.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC expressed concern that preventing the senator from resuming her legislative duties violates democratic principles and disenfranchises her constituents.
“The suspension, having been imposed by the Senate and not a court of law, has lapsed. Any further attempt to prevent her from resuming is therefore both illegal and morally indefensible,” Mallam Abdullahi said.
The party noted that denying Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan access to the chamber silences the voice of the people who elected her, adding that the withdrawal of her salary, aides, and office access during the suspension amounted to excessive punishment.
The ADC also criticised the Clerk of the National Assembly for declining to process her resumption on grounds that the matter was before the courts, arguing that the Clerk’s role was administrative, not judicial.
“Administrative caution must not translate into complicity. When the administrative machinery becomes hostage to political interests, the institution itself is diminished,” the party stated.
Highlighting that Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan is one of only four women in the 109-member Senate, the ADC warned that the handling of the case sends a discouraging signal about gender inclusion in Nigerian politics.
“Any action that resembles gender intimidation of the few women in the Senate would only discourage women’s participation. Nigeria cannot claim to be a democracy while excluding half of its population from key decision-making spaces,” Mallam Abdullahi added.
The ADC insisted that Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan be allowed to resume her seat immediately, stressing that the matter was about more than one individual.
“What is at stake here is not just one Senate seat, but the integrity of our democracy itself,” the party said.
