Senators elected under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Thursday staged a walk-out during plenary when it became obvious to them that the majority All Progressives Congress lawmakers were bent on having Rotimi Amaechi confirmed as Minister of the Federal Republic.
It would be recalled that during the nominee’s screening, PDP caucus in the Upper Chambers had refused to ask the former Governor of Rivers State questions.
In today’s plenary, the PDP lawmakers had argued that the court of law must first clear Amaechi of the weighty allegations brought against him by the Rivers State government before he is confirmed by the Senate and that the report of the Committee on Public Petitions, Ethics and Privileges which did not favour Amaechi’s confirmation was in consonance with the rules of the Senate.
They also argued that once there is a matter pending before a competent court of law, the Senate had no right to act on it.
The APC lawmakers however rejected the report of the Committee in view of the fact that a case is pending against Amaechi at a competent court of law and as such, his confirmation must not be affected by an unproven allegation.
A motion raised by the Senate Leader, Ali Ndume was however not seconded by the Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, who insisted that the PDP lawmakers would first express themselves before seconding Ndume’s motion which clearly overruled the recommendations by the Committee.
However, shortly before the confirmation, the PDP senators staged a walk-out led by their Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio. This happened after it became obvious that the Senate President was going to put a question on the recommendation of the committee.
However, the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, used his veto power to overrule the need for the Minority Leader to second the pending motion by Ndume which eventually led to the seamless confirmation of Amaechi through a unanimous voice vote.
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