The Senate has been thrown into a rowdy session over the screening of a ministerial nominee from Delta State, Festus Keyamo.
Mr Keyamo, a lawyer, was minister of state for Niger Delta affairs before being drafted as minister of state for labour and productivity during the Buhari administration.
Last week, President Bola Tinubu made a last-minute inclusion of his name into the ministerial nominee list.
During his screening on Monday, Keyamo said he had given up hope to be part of the federal executive council of the Tinubu administration until he was nominated last Friday.
The senior advocate of Nigeria said he had packed his bags to go on vacation with his family until he learnt he had been nominated by the president.
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Soon, the Senator representing Abia Central Senatorial District Darlington Nwokocha moved a motion for the suspension of the screening.
Nwokocha said the motion was based on the insults Keyamo gave to lawmakers of both chambers during the Buhari administration.
Nwokocha claimed that Keyamo was summoned to clarify matters pertaining to a special public works programme during the Buhari administration but failed to honour the invitation.
The programme was overseen by the National Directorate of Employment, which was supervised by Keyamo.
Enyinnaya Abaribe, a senator from the Abia South Senatorial District and former minority leader, seconded Nwokocha’s motion.
The motion was then put to a voice vote by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, but the senators were divided on the matter.
The Senate immediately erupted into a rowdy session.
Akpabio subsequently suspended the session and rushed down to the Villa for a meeting with Tinubu.
