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Wike, El-Rufai, Umahi, Seven Women Make Tinubu’s Ministerial List
The immediate past governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike, and three other former governors made the list of ministerial nominees submitted by President Bola Tinubu for Senate confirmation, yesterday.
The three other former governors are Nasir El-Rufai, Muhammed Abubakar Badar and David Umahi of Kaduna, Jigawa and Ebonyi States, respectively,
The list also has eight lawmakers, including serving ones, former ministers, ambassadors and technocrats.
The President beat the July 29 deadline for submission of the ministerial list as stipulated by the constitution as amended by the ninth Assembly.
Tinubu, according to the 1999 Constitution, as amended by the Ninth Senate, has barely two days left out of the 60 days deadline stipulated for the President to unveil his cabinet members.
Section 42 of the constitution states that “(a) the nomination of any person to the office of a Minister for confirmation by the Senate shall be done within sixty days after the date the President has taken the oath of office;
“(b) not less than ten per cent of persons appointed as Ministers shall be women:
“Provided that the President may appoint a Minister at any other time during his tenure and such appointment shall be subject to confirmation by the Senate.”
The piece of legislation further prescribes that the President shall appoint at least a minister from each of the 36 states of the federation.
The Tide reports that contrary to the 37 names being circulated in the social media and ones published by some media organisations (not The Tide), yesterday, only 28 names made the first list of the ministerial nominees.
The authentic list read at the Senate plenary yesterday by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, also include a renown economist, Olawale Edun; a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Waheed Adebayo Adelabu; a legal luminary, Latef Fagbemi, SAN; Senator Sani Abubakar Danladi, Senator John Eno.
Other prominent names who made the list include the President’s Special Adviser on Media, Strategy and Special Duties, Dele Alake; former Minister of Health under Goodluck Jonathan who recently rejected an international job, Prof. Ali Pate and Professor Joseph Utsev.
Also on the list is the women leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Betta Edu and five other women which include Hon. Nkiru Onyeojiocha, Hon. Uju Kennedy Ohaneye, Stella Okotette, Dorris Aniche Uzoka and Mrs Iman Suleiman Ibrahim.
Other nominees include the National Deputy Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Abubakar Kyari; Rt. Hon. Ekperipe Ekpo, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji Ojo, Chief Uche Nnaji and Abubakar Momoh.
The rest are Ambassador Yusuf Miatama Tukur, Arch. Ahmed Dangiwa, Barr. Hannatu Musawa, Mr. Bello Muhammad G. and Mr. Muhammad Idris.
The letter which contained the ministerial list was personally handed over to the Senate President by the Chief of Staff to the President and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, during the Senate plenary at exactly 1.20pm.
Gbajabiamila’s entry into the Senate plenary session followed a point of order and motion by the Majority Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (Ekiti APC), that the former Speaker of the House of Representatives be allowed to join the plenary to deliver an important message from President Tinubu. The motion was seconded by the Minority Leader, Mwadkwon Davou (Plateau North, PDP)
The list did not, however, contain the portfolios of the nominees.
The Tide reports that it was the first time the COS to a President would personally deliver a ministerial list to the Chambers and during plenary session.
President Tinubu’s letter read in part, “In compliance to the provision of Section 147 sub-section 2 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, I am pleased to forward to Senate for confirmation the underlisted 28 ministerial nominees.
“While hoping that the additional nominations will be sent in due course, I hope that the aforementioned nominees will receive the expeditious consideration and confirmation of the Senate.
“Please accept Distinguished Senate President and Senators the assurance of my highest regard.”
Akpabio, after reading out the letter from the President to the Senators, referred the list to the Committee of the Whole House for appropriate legislative action.
There have been agitations over the ministerial list particularly due to Tinubu’s long silence over the list.
A number of Nigerians have expressed concern and worry over the delayed formation of the President’s cabinet particularly because Tinubu had, after his election, promised Nigerians that he would hit the ground running.
He had also promised credible governance with competent people occupying various positions across the sphere of execution.
In a statement on March 16, Tinubu said he would set up a “government of national competence.
“There has been talk of a government of national unity. My aim is higher than that. I seek a government of national competence. In selecting my government, I shall not be weighed down by considerations extraneous to ability and performance.”
The delay in announcing the cabinet ministers had also led to the emergence of several lists of ministers, which the government itself disowned.
Briefing the Press after plenary, the Senate’s Spokesman, Senator Yemi Adaramodu (Ekiti South), disclosed that the Senate would convene screening on Monday in an extraordinary session.
Senator Adaramola said that the Senate was poised to have a thorough screening session to ensure that only nominees fit for the offices are confirmed.
Responding to questions on what will become of nominees with pending allegations of corruption, he stressed that only those qualified in character, experience, expertise and capacity will scale through the Senate screening and be confirmed.
The Senate spokesperson explained that the Senate shifted its annual break which usually commence in July to ensure they give Nigerians the new ministers, adding that the Senate was ready to sit for as many days as it takes to thoroughly screen the nominees .
He added that the usual “bow and go” will only be obtainable where all Senators accept a nominee as fit and competent.
By: Boye Salau & Nneka Amaechi-Nnadi
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The Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has directed his lawyers to withdraw all ongoing defamation lawsuits against several individuals, saying he was moved by counsel during a New Year Mass.
Speaking at the Sacred Heart Parish in Uyo, yesterday, Akpabio said he had filed nearly nine lawsuits against individuals he accused of defaming him.
He said, “I had almost nine cases in court against some individuals who defamed me, who lied against me, who slandered my name.
“But I listened to the priest and suddenly realised he was talking to me, so I hereby direct my solicitor to withdraw all lawsuits against them.”
In 2025, Akpabio had filed several high-profile defamation lawsuits, including one against colleague Senator Natasha Akpoti?Uduaghan.
In late 2025, Akpabio filed a N200 billion defamation lawsuit against her over allegations of sexual harassment, which he denied and urged her to substantiate in court.
Earlier in the year, Akpabio’s wife also filed defamation suits against Akpoti?Uduaghan over claims she said had harmed her family’s reputation.
Relations between the two lawmakers soured after Akpoti?Uduaghan accused Akpabio of influencing her suspension from the Senate in March 2025, following her public allegations of misconduct.
The Senator had previously challenged actions taken against her in court, including a N100 billion defamation suit she filed against Akpabio and other defendants over alleged remarks that she said damaged her reputation.
With yesterday’s announcement, Akpabio has formally ended all pending legal disputes arising from defamation claims, signalling closure to the publicised litigations as the year begins.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that the best form of gratitude Rivers people owe President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for protecting the interest of the State is to galvanize massive support for the President in 2027.
Fubara disclosed this last Monday during the commissioning of Permanent Secretaries Quarters built by his administration at Elimgbu in Obio Akpor Local Government Area of the State.
He said that the State has what it takes to deliver the President during the 2027 general elections.
“We’ve taken a decision,our decision is for the good of Rivers State, our decision is to say thank you for the protection we have from Mr President, our decision is to prove that we have what it takes to deliver Mr President.”
Fubara expressed delight over the completion of the project, stating that the initiative was to provide accommodation, a basic need of life for public servants in the state to improve their productivity.
He explained that lack of effective social welfare was at the root of some incriminating actions that undermine the purpose of governance, noting that the commissioning of the newly built Permanent Secretaries Quarters marks a significant milestone in civil service welfare and institutional development.
“Insecurity begins when individuals are uncertain of what the next hour holds. This situation is especially challenging for family men and women, affecting confidence and decision-making,” he observed.
Fubara emphasized the need for proper maintenance of the facility and urged the beneficiaries to protect the project like a personal property, while directing the State Head of Service to appoint a facility manager to ensure long-term maintenance.
In her remarks, the Special Guest of Honour and Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack, who unveiled the project, expressed appreciation to the governor and Rivers State for inviting her to commission the project.
She commended Fubara for prioritizing the welfare of Permanent Secretaries who are senior public servants and accounting officers, noting that the project reflects purposeful and visionary leadership, and urged other states to borrow a cue from the Rivers State Governor.
Walson-Jack described the initiative as a strategic investment in staff welfare and institutional continuity which she noted is in line with Renewed Hope Initiative on provision of mass housing and social stability.
“The commissioning of these houses reflect a deliberate commitment to the dignity, welfare, and productivity of senior public servants responsible for policy coordination and service delivery,” she said.
In his goodwill message, the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibode Bashiru, who led a high powered delegation on a visit to the governor, congratulated Rivers people for aligning with the Pan Nigerian political party, assuring that the interest of Rivers State will be duly protected in the APC.
He described President Bola Tinubu as a detribalised Nigerian who anchors his leadership on equity, fairness and justice, adding that the APC will provide a level playing ground for all.
The APC chief scribe also commended Fubara for providing good accommodation for public servants, stating that it will address issues of sabotage, compromise and disloyalty on the part of public servants.
Giving the project description, Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Works, Dr. Austin Ezekiel-Hart, said the estate comprises 29 units, including nine standalone duplexes and 20 terrace buildings.
Facilities feature a water treatment plant, synchronized power generators, CCTV and alarm systems, a gym, recreational areas, and green spaces—designed to enhance comfort, performance, and productivity.
Earlier, the Head of the Rivers State Civil Service, Dr Mrs Inyingi Brown, had thanked the governor for his visionary initiative and unwavering commitment to the welfare of Rivers State Civil Servants, and restated the commitment of the State civil servants to the success of Fubara’s administration.
By: Taneh Beemene
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