President Bola Tinubu has put forth Abbas Balarabe as the replacement for the former Kaduna Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, in a letter presented by Senate President GodsWill Akpabio during Tuesday’s plenary.
Balarabe’s nomination was accompanied by Dr. Jamila Ibrahim and Ayodele Olawande, nominated as Minister of Youths and Minister of State for Youths by the president.
In August, El-Rufai’s name was notably absent from the list of ministerial nominees confirmed by the Senate. Following a screening process lasting about a week, the Senate approved and confirmed 45 out of the 48 nominees submitted by President Bola Tinubu.
During the ministerial screening, Senator Sunday Karimi (APC, Kogi West) presented several petitions, including one against the former governor related to insecurity in Southern Kaduna. He praised El-Rufai’s past performances in various roles and insisted that the petition should be considered in the screening.
Senator Jibrin Barau, the deputy senate president presiding over the screening, expressed that the nominee should have an opportunity to explain and showcase themselves, with confirmation and approval to follow later.
While some senators commended El-Rufai’s competence, others, including Ibrahim Kalid representing Kaduna North, expressed their support for his nomination as minister.
Ultimately, during the plenary, the Senate President declined to accept the petition against the former governor, citing multiple petitions submitted against various ministerial nominees.
Further details are expected to be provided later.
