There is tension in the Nigerian Senate following the appearance of a former media aide to a past administration in the list of ambassadorial nominees sent to the Red Chamber for screening and confirmation. Reports indicate that his past criticism of the current administration has caused division among lawmakers, leading to the temporary shutdown of the senators internal communication platform.
The nomination has sparked reactions from various quarters, including opposition voices, due to his earlier description of the current leader as a drug baron. It was gathered that the head of the Senate played a major role in adding his name to the list, a move believed by some to be a form of political compensation.
In response to the backlash, the Senate leadership is reportedly mobilising support to ensure the nominee is approved during the screening. A source claimed that the nomination was given as a reward for previous political support. However, some members are also said to be working to block the nomination, arguing that his past statements about the President should disqualify him.
Another senator from the southern region is believed to be at the forefront of efforts to rally colleagues to reject the nominee, insisting that someone who made such allegations against a sitting President should not represent the country on the international stage.
The situation has escalated to the point where the Senate’s routine communication channel, a WhatsApp group for lawmakers, was locked. One of the administrators reportedly disabled responses in an attempt to stop ongoing confrontations. This decision angered some senators who felt they were being silenced. Among them was a senator who publicly challenged the administrator and demanded that the group be reopened and deleted comments restored.
In a public post, she insisted that responses must be enabled and her deleted comments reinstated, warning that she would otherwise take the matter to the public space.
The administrator maintained that anyone who referred to the President as a drug baron and had not withdrawn such remarks should not be allowed to represent the nation. He stressed that the issue concerned the dignity of the office of the President rather than personal feelings.
Despite the controversy, the Senate is expected to begin screening all ambassadorial nominees on Tuesday.
The nominee in question was once a strong critic of the current administration but later changed his position, openly expressing support and granting interviews praising the President’s achievements, including visiting him at the State House.
