President Bola Tinubu’s initial list of nominees has been approved by the Senate with the confirmation of three non-career ambassadors.
Two weeks after the President sent the names to the higher parliamentary house, the confirmations were made in plenary on Tuesday.
Aminu Muhammad Dalhatu from Jigawa State, Emmanuel Ayodele Oke from Oyo State, and Lateef Kayode Kolawole Are from Ogun State are the confirmed nominees.
According to reports, the confirmations came after the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, which carried out the screening process last week, considered and adopted the report.
After assessing the three nominees’ qualifications and eligibility for the diplomatic positions, the committee cleared them in its report.
It is noteworthy that 64 more ambassadorial nominees who were previously sent to the Senate by President Tinubu and examined by the committee have not yet received confirmation.
Its nominees are anticipated to be considered by the upper house at a later time.
On Thursday of last week, the Senate rejected allegations that it had received protest letters or petitions against any of President Bola Tinubu’s 65 ambassadorial candidates who are presently being screened.
The explanation was made in response to unsubstantiated rumors that were making the rounds in political circles and on social media, implying that some nominees—such as former INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu, former Minister of Aviation Femi Fani-Kayode, and former presidential aide Reno Omokri—were encountering opposition before being confirmed.
Midway through Thursday’s proceedings, Senate spokeswoman Senator Yemi Adaramodu informed Punch that the upper house had not received any official complaints.
“I am informing you that no organization or legal entity submitted a petition to us. Not even from any anonymous, criminal, or renegade element. When questioned explicitly about the purported protest letters, he responded, “There was no petition against any nominee.”
On Thursday, the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs began its second day of the ambassadorial screening, with a number of well-known candidates presenting before legislators.
Public interest in the process has increased, especially in light of the controversy surrounding the political backgrounds and questionable eligibility of some nominees.
Adaramodu gave an update on the screening process, pointing out that over half of the nominations had already been examined by MPs.
