BY HENRY UMORU & INALEGWU SHAIBU

ABUJA – THE Senate, yesterday, rejected the nomination of former Minister of Water Resources, Dr. Obadiah Ando, just as it confirmed former Head of Service, Ms Ama Pepple from Rivers State as  minister.

Also confirmed were Mrs Sarah Reng Ochekpe, Plateau State; Mr. Edem Duke, Cross River State; Mr. Nyesom Wike, Rivers and Mrs Hadiza Ibrahim Mailafia, Kaduna State.

Pepple, a former Clerk of the Senate, was asked to take a bow and go.

The upper Legislative chamber will today screen Dr. Nurudeen Mohammed, Jigawa; Mrs Omobola Johnson Olubusola, Ondo and Dr. Mohammed Pate, Bauchi State.

Speaking at the end of screening, Senate President David Mark observed that the rejection of Ando, a nominee from Taraba State, was a clear indication of the Senate’s commitment to scrutinise nominees, adding that was not everyone nominated that would be cleared.

Senator Mark stressed that Ando’s rejection was a lesson to others.

Also speaking to newsmen after yesterday’s session, Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba explained that the rejection of Ando was on the instance of Senators from his home state.

He said his failure to settle the perceived disagreement with the Senators led to his rejection.

Ndoma-Egba said: “We got information from the Villa that he was going to be withdrawn. But the correspondent did not come which meant he was still on the list.

“The information I had was that the nominee did not present himself for security screening. It has nothing to do with us.

“The issue is that if you as a nominee do not have the support of senators from your state, then you are in trouble and he did not have the support of senators from his state.

“That was the simple issue and I think the Senate tried to provide him with every opportunity to settle whatever differences he has with his Senators so apparently whatever effort he made in that regard did not yield any fruit.”

After  Ando’s rejection, Senator Alhassan moved round to thank other members of the Senate for helping them out.