Imo State and the Federal Capital Territory ambassadorial nominees were again omitted from the new list sent to the Senate by President Buhari on Tuesday.
President Buhari had initially forwarded the 47 career ambassadorial nominees’ list to the Senate in July, shortly before lawmakers embarked on their annual recess.
The list was greeted with criticisms and outcry from Senators, who protested the exclusion of their states from the list.
Though the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs has concluded the screening exercise, the final report has not been laid on the floor for debate.
Meanwhile, at Tuesday’s plenary, Senate President, Bukola Saraki, prevented the Senate from rejecting the list of 46 non-career ambassadorial nominees sent to the Senate last week.
The Senate Leader, Ndume, had earlier moved a motion that the Senate should consider President Buhari’s request to confirm the nominees.
When Saraki put the request to a voice vote, there was a loud shout of “nay”.
The Senate President announced that he was going to repeat the question and when he did, lawmakers re-echoed the same ‘nay’.
There was, however, no protest against the Senate President’s ruling.
It was gathered that President Buhari’s refusal to address the lopsided appointments in the career ambassadorial list sent to the Senate in July, necessitated the attempted rejection of the non-career list.
