A tense drama unfolded at the Senate on Thursday during the screening of President Bola Tinubu’s ambassadorial nominees, as two senior lawmakers — Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North) and Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South) — clashed over the nomination of former presidential aide Reno Omokri. The heated exchange erupted in Room 301 of the National Assembly complex, where Omokri sat quietly while the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs continued its scrutiny of 65 career and non-career nominees.

Trouble began when Oshiomhole rose to comment on Omokri’s nomination, insisting he would not be intimidated and hinting at controversies surrounding the nominee. Ndume immediately objected, stressing the need to follow parliamentary procedure and declaring any unseconded motion “dead.” The confrontation escalated rapidly, with both lawmakers trading sharp remarks — from Oshiomhole demanding protection from the chairman to Ndume firing back that “the Senate is not a joke,” and Oshiomhole retorting that those who had never been governors should listen. Ndume countered, “You never dreamed of becoming a senator when I became one,” prompting Senator Abubakar Bello to intervene and restore order.

The exchange marked one of the most dramatic moments of the ongoing screening exercise, raising questions about underlying tensions and the political weight attached to Omokri’s nomination. Could this confrontation be a sign of deeper divisions within the Senate as high-stakes appointments continue? Visit www.jocomms.com for more news stories.