Senate Clears Air: No Petitions Submitted Against Ambassadorial Nominees Yet

The Senate has made it clear that it has not yet received any official petitions against the most recent list of ambassadorial nominees.

While there have been public complaints about the nominees, Senate spokesperson Yemi Adaramodu clarified in an interview with Sunday Punch that the Senate can only take action on written petitions that are received through the appropriate channels.

He mentioned that the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs has been tasked with reviewing the screening procedure and providing a report within a week.

We have not yet received a petition opposing any nomination. I only read the list on Thursday. We anticipate that the committee would forward any petition to the Senate, Adaramodu stated.

Adaramodu underlined that the nominees’ screening by the committee is merely the initial stage of the procedure. The entire Senate will have the chance to interrogate each nominee following the committee’s review before making a final decision.

He went on to say that the Senate still has the authority to reject any nominee who, in light of the committee’s conclusions, is judged unsuited for the position.

“The committee will present its report to plenary following the screening, and the entire Senate will then review the report.” The screening of nominees is not final at the committee level. He clarified that the Senate, the larger chamber, has the authority to accept, reject, or change the committee’s conclusions.

Adaramodu reaffirmed that the Senate would take immediate action in response to any legitimate accusations or petitions made against any nominee.

“Upholding, rejecting, or sustaining the committee on foreign affairs’ report is the responsibility of the committee of the whole, led by the Senate President as chairman,” he said.