TheCable

Senators of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rejected Tuesday’s votes and proceedings held for the confirmation of Rotimi Ameachi, former Rivers state governor, and some of the nominees confirmed by the upper chamber last week.

Although the senate adopted the votes and proceedings, the PDP senators were firm in their dissent.

When Senate President Bukola Saraki posed the question for the adoption of the proceedings, the All Progressives Congress (APC) senators answered in the affirmative, while their PDP counterparts chorused a loud “nay”.

But Saraki went ahead to hit the gavel in favour of the affirmative and as such, validated the votes and proceedings of the senate for that day.

Led by Godswill Akpabio, the minority leader, PDP lawmakers moved to reject the confirmation of the former governor.

They had insisted that a committee report on the alleged corruption petition against Amaechi be considered by the senate to determine whether or not to confirm him.

While their APC colleagues rejected the recommendation of the committee that the nominee’s screening should not be entertained, the PDP senators supported it.

The disagreement resulted to a walkout by the PDP senators, while the senate confirmed the former governor.

Meanwhile, the senate also considered the request of President Muhammadu Buhari for a $200-million World Bank loan for Lagos state.

The loan is the second tranche of a development policy operation (DPO) loan offered by the World Bank to the Lagos state government.

Saraki referred the request to the ad hoc committee on local and foreign debts, charging it to report back to the senate in two weeks.

Edo state had also requested for a similar loan of 70 million dollars as the second tranche of the same development policy operation of the World Bank.

Meanwhile, three bills passed first reading in the red chamber.

The bills are control of delegated legislation bill 2015, sponsored by Biodun Olujimi (Ekiti south); national youth development agency bill 2015 by Tijjani Kaura (APC Zamfara north); and the counterfeit and fake drugs and unwholesome processed foods (miscellaneous provision and amendment) bill 2015 also sponsored by Olujimi.

The senate thereafter adjourned plenary to Wednesday.