By Kingsley Okoye
Senators who challenged President Muhammadu Buhari’s nomination of Mr Lamido Yuguda as the Director-General of Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) have withdrawn their petition.
Sen. Ayo Akinyelure, Chairman, Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, said this while presenting the report of the committee at plenary on Thursday.
Akinyelure explained that senators- Bassey Akpan (PDP – Akwa-Ibom); Christopher Ekpenyong (PDP – Akwa-Ibom); and Akon Eyakenyi (PDP – Akwa-Ibom) withdrew the petition following the intervention of the committee.
The lawmakers had challenged the nomination of Yuguda saying that Mrs Mary Uduk an indigene of Akwa-Ibom should have been nominated for the position.
Contributing, Sen. Sam Egwu (PDP – Ebonyi) urged the Federal Government to consider Akwa-Ibom in future appointments in view of the development.
Sen. Adamu Bulkachuwa (APC – Bauchi) said the consideration of the report of the committee was not necessary as the petitioners had withdrawn their petition.
Senate President Ahmad Lawan, however, observed that there was a procedural issue which made it mandatory for the committee to submit its report to the senate in spite of the withdrawal of the petition.
Accordingly, the senate while adopting a resolution by Sen. James Manager (PDP – Delta) resolved that consequent upon the withdrawal of the petition, the matter should be laid to rest. (NAN)