PDP Senators don’t want former governor confirmed as minister

Amaechi

The PDP Senators are said to have threatened to withdraw their support for Senate President, Bukola Saraki if he goes ahead to confirm Amaechi.

The ministerial ambition of former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi is reportedly facing another challenge as Senators belonging to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are said to be against his confirmation.

Amaechi's nomination had earlier been contested by three Senators from his state citing corruption allegations levelled against him by successor, Nyesom Wike.

The PDP Senators are said to have threatened to withdraw their support for Senate President, Bukola Saraki if he goes ahead to confirm Amaechi, Vanguard reports.

The opposition Senators were said to have reached the decision during a PDP Senate caucus meeting held after the ministerial screening process was concluded on Wednesday, October 28, 2015. “Don’t quote my name. Some of the PDP Senators want to ambush Amaechi during confirmation and this issue has gone beyond politics to personal vendetta now; it is not all of them,” a Senator from Zamfara State reportedly told Daily Post.

“I want to call on all APC members that this is not the time to stay away. We should be at plenary purposely for this confirmation because of any eventuality so that what happened in the past should not happen again,” he added.

The PDP Senators are said to be against Amaechi due to the part he played in the downfall of the party and its mass defeat in the 2015 elections.

Amaechi was at the forefront of a rebellion which saw five governors defect from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The opposition Senators are also said to be planning to contest the confirmation of Cross River State nominee, Pastor Usani Uguru. Uguru caused outrage in the Senate when he said “God Forbid” after being asked if he was ever a member of the PDP.

The Senate has so far confirmed 18 out of President Muhammadu Buhari's 36 ministerial nominees and is expected to confirm the remaining 18 today, October 29.