The Nigerian Senate has been thrown into confusion following the nomination of former presidential aide and social media commentator, Reno Omokri, for an ambassadorial position, an appointment that has reopened old political wounds, triggered factional clashes, and even led to the shutdown of the senators’ WhatsApp platform.
Omokri was listed among 32 ambassadorial nominees sent to the Senate for screening, but his inclusion has sparked intense controversy, particularly because of his past public criticisms of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, including a widely discussed instance in which he referred to the President as a “drug baron.”
Multiple parliamentary insiders revealed that Senate President Godswill Akpabio initially championed Omokri’s nomination, allegedly as a reward for political work Omokri had done on his behalf.
However, in a dramatic turnaround, Akpabio is said to be coordinating efforts to block the same nominee.
“The Senate President nominated Omokri for the role as compensation for certain political jobs he carried out for him,” one source claimed.
“But he is now mobilising senators to reject the nomination on the grounds that Omokri once attacked Tinubu and called him a drug baron.”
One of the loudest voices opposing the nomination is Senator Osita Ngwu of Enugu West, who has reportedly been rallying colleagues to vote against Omokri.
Ngwu’s argument is that an individual who publicly made such damaging allegations against a sitting President cannot credibly represent Nigeria abroad.
Sources further disclosed that tensions reached new heights when heated exchanges over Omokri’s nomination erupted in the senators’ WhatsApp group, prompting administrators to restrict comments.
Senator Ngwu, said to be one of the group’s admins, allegedly disabled responses to prevent the conflict from escalating.
This action angered many lawmakers.
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan openly confronted Ngwu, demanding that he restore comment access and reinstate messages that were deleted during the argument.
In a post directed at Ngwu, she wrote:
“Dear Senator Osita Ngwu of Enugu West Senatorial District, you will open responses in the Senators’ WhatsApp forum and repost my deleted comments. Else I’ll bring the discussion to the public domain.”
Ngwu maintained his stance, insisting that anyone who once accused the President of being a drug baron, and has not withdrawn the statement, should not be entrusted with representing Nigeria internationally.
“It’s about the office of the President, not the individual,” he said.
The development has deepened divisions within the Senate, even as the chamber is expected to begin screening the nominees on Tuesday.
DAILY GAZETTE recall that Omokri had long insisted he would never accept any appointment under President Tinubu.
Before the 2023 election, he was one of Tinubu’s fiercest critics, frequently challenging his academic background, past record, and integrity.
Though he later softened his opposition after confirming records linked to Tinubu’s Chicago education, he still maintained publicly that he would not work for the President.
During an episode of the Mic On podcast with Seun Okinbaloye, Omokri was asked whether he would ever accept an appointment from Tinubu. He firmly responded:
“It will never happen.”
Pressed further, he claimed that someone from Tinubu’s camp had already approached him, but he declined.
“I told the person it cannot happen. It’s against my principles… I can never work with him.”
Despite his past declarations, Omokri now finds himself at the centre of a major political storm as the Senate prepares to decide his fate.
