The Senate on Thursday dismissed reports that it had received petitions or protest letters against any of President Bola Tinubu’s 65 ambassadorial nominees currently undergoing screening.
The clarification came in response to unverified claims circulating in political circles and on social media, suggesting that some nominees, including former Minister of Aviation Femi Fani‑Kayode, ex‑presidential aide, Reno Omokri, and former INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, were facing opposition ahead of their confirmation.
Senate spokesperson, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, told Punch in an interview midway through Thursday’s proceedings that the upper chamber had not received any formal complaints.
“I am telling you that we didn’t receive petitions from anybody, organisation or legal entity. Not even from any faceless, outlawed and rogue element. There was no petition against any nominee,” he said when asked specifically about the alleged protest letters.
The ambassadorial screening, conducted by the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, entered its second day on Thursday with several high‑profile nominees appearing before lawmakers.
The exercise has drawn heightened public interest, particularly amid controversies surrounding some nominees’ political pasts and perceived eligibility.
Providing an update on screening progress, Adaramodu noted that lawmakers had already processed more than half of the nominees.
“So far, within the last one and a half days, they have screened more than half. Let me say they have screened not less than 40 now,” he said.
Adaramodu also disputed online claims that nominees were merely asked to “take a bow and go,” a practice often criticised as superficial.
“It is not true. Since yesterday (Wednesday), they were being questioned on their capacity and capability during the screening. Today is also not different,” he said, adding that substantive questioning had taken place.
The Senate spokesman explained that most nominees had already undergone thorough vetting by security agencies, including background checks by the Department of State Services and clearance processes through INEC for those previously involved in elections.
“Besides, they have gone through all the rigours and crucibles of screening, either from INEC and security agencies, so much that we have little or nothing more to add, except anybody is bringing up complaints or issues. When that one is brought up, we will treat it. We will not tell the person to take it back,” he said.
He added, “So I am assuring that all other nominees are undergoing the crucibles. We have been questioning them since yesterday and even tested their competence.”
The screening exercise is expected to conclude this week, paving the way for the Senate to either confirm or reject the ambassadorial nominees in the coming days.
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