Senators Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North) and Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South) engaged in a heated exchange on Thursday over the ambassadorial nomination of former presidential aide Reno Omokri in Abuja.
The confrontation occurred on the second day of the ongoing screening of President Bola Tinubu’s 65 career and non-career ambassadorial nominees submitted to the Senate last week.
Omokri watched silently from Room 301 as the two senior legislators traded sharp procedural and political remarks.
Tensions rose when Oshiomhole began addressing Omokri’s nomination, declaring, “I cannot be intimidated by people who go here and there. After all, we see people on television questioning this list.”
Ndume interrupted, stressing that Senate procedure must be followed: “If there is a motion on the ground, it should be seconded. If it is not seconded, it’s dead.”
Oshiomhole refused to yield, appealing to the Committee Chairman, Senator Abubakar Bello (APC, Niger North), to let him continue in the public interest.
Ndume fired back, insisting, “There is no such petition before us. The Senate is not a joke!”
The exchange escalated into political jabs. Oshiomhole said, “When I talk, those who have not been governors should listen… President Tinubu has shown real quality—that criticism during the election does not prevent appointment.”
Nudume shot back, “You have never dreamed of being a senator when I became one.” The Committee Chairman intervened to restore order, reminding Oshiomhole of the pending motion.
Omokri remained composed but tense as the debate unfolded, uncertain how it might influence the Senate’s perception of his nomination.
Thursday’s drama came a day after controversy over Emmanuel Adeyemi, a career diplomat nominee from Ekiti State, who struggled to name all three senators representing his home state, prompting outrage.
Adeyemi’s team attempted to look up the answer on a phone, drawing criticism from lawmakers including Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, while some colleagues pleaded for leniency.
Adeyemi is among three nominees from Ekiti, alongside Erelu Angela Adebayo and Olumilua Oluwayemika.
