The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday
confirmed Musiliu Obanikoro as a
federal minister, appointed by
President Goodluck Jonathan,
brushing aside allegations that Mr.
Obanikoro played a key role in
election fraud in Ekiti State.
Mr. Obanikoro was named recently
in a leaked tape as a principal actor
in the state’s governorship election
rigging in 2014, sparking national
outrage.
The Nigerian government has
refused to investigate the claims.
The Senate approved Mr.
Obanikoro’s nomination as a
minister, Wednesday, after repeated
deferments, despite protests from
senators from Lagos State, Mr.
Obanikoro’s home state, and other
opposition All Progressives Congress,
APC, who had vowed to stop the
clearance over the Ekiti scandal.
As a former senator himself, the
Senate allowed Mr. Obanikoro to
“take a bow and go”, without
answering questions, a privilege
reserved for former federal
lawmakers.
APC lawmakers responded by
walking out of the session in protest.
Details later…
