THE Senate, on Wednesday, suspended the confirmation of ministerial nominee, Kingsley Udeh (SAN), citing the absence of a mandatory security clearance required before his appointment can be approved.
News Point Nigeria reports that Udeh, nominated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to represent Enugu State in the Federal Executive Council, was scheduled for confirmation during plenary on Wednesday. However, Senate President Godswill Akpabio explained that the legislative chamber would not proceed without official security vetting from relevant agencies.
“The confirmation of the minister-nominee would have been next on the list, but we need security clearance,” Akpabio announced.
The delay comes barely 24 hours after the President forwarded the nomination to the Senate for consideration. In his letter read during Tuesday’s plenary, Tinubu stressed that the appointment was made pursuant to Section 147(2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which mandates Senate approval for ministerial nominees.
Udeh’s nomination followed the controversial resignation of Uche Nnaji, former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, who stepped down amid public backlash over alleged discrepancies in his academic credentials — particularly a degree linked to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
Nnaji’s exit left Enugu State without a representative in the Federal Executive Council, prompting calls for urgent replacement to maintain constitutional balance and political inclusion.
After Akpabio read the President’s request on Tuesday, Udeh was referred to the Committee of the Whole for screening. But tensions rose when the matter resurfaced on the Order Paper a day later without supporting clearance documents.
Akpabio hinted that one of the lawmakers had informed him that the nominee was en route to the National Assembly with the necessary paperwork. Despite that, several senators strongly opposed proceeding without due institutional process.
Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central) sharply criticised the suggestion that the Senate should wait for the nominee to deliver the document personally.
“This is an institution. I have nothing against the young man. I know him. But let us respect this institution. You can’t wait for the nominee because he’s coming with a security clearance letter. No, that’s not done,” he insisted.
Responding, Akpabio assured lawmakers that the chamber had no intention of bending procedures:
“I don’t even have any intention of waiting for anybody because after screening them, you don’t see them again.”
Following the brief debate, the Senate Leader moved a motion for a closed-door executive session to discuss what Akpabio described as “national issues”. The session was approved, and lawmakers subsequently withdrew into a private meeting.