The Senate was on Monday divided at planery over the ministerial nomination of the APC stalwart, Festus Keyamo.

This was sequel to a motion moved by Sen. Darlington Nwokeocha (Abia Central), calling for the suspension of Keyamo’s screening as ministerial nominee by the Senate.

 

Sen. Darlington Nwokeocha told the Senate that Festus Keyamo has no regard for two Chambers of the National Assembly.

 

He recounted that in 2020, the ministerial nominee fragrantly refused to honour the summon of both the Senate and House of Representatives to explain the issues surrounding the payment to N20,000 to Nigerians, when he was the Minister of State for Labour and Productivity during Buhari’s administration.

 

According to Sen. Darlington Nwokeocha, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria SAN, accused the lawmakers of wanting to hijack the N52bn that was to be disbursed to Nigerians across the 774 local government areas.

 

Seconding the motion, Sen. Abaribe Enyinnaya said “Festus rejected the summon of the National Assembly, therefore I do support that his nomination be stepped down pending when he acknowledged it”.

 

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio conducted a voice vote to adopt the motion, but the vote threw the hollowed chamber into division as the plenary session became rowdy.

 

The Senate then resolve into a close session to enable them address the issue.