While the House leadership said yesterday that Sambo will face the 360 members of the House of Representatives in a screening exercise that is the first of its kind in Nigeria’s democratic history, the Senate declared that he will not have to appear before it in person.

Jonathan had in a letter addressed to the Speaker of the House of Representatives Dimeji Bankole dated 13th May, 2010 conveyed the nomination of Sambo as vice president. The House leadership met yesterday, during which it worked out modalities on how the screening exercise will be conducted.  

Speaking to reporters afterwards, Rep. Ita Enang (PDP, Akwa Ibom), chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business, said, “We are ready and prepared to screen him. We will suspend order 7 of our rule book in order to allow him into the chamber because according to the rule only a member is allowed to enter into the hallowed chamber.

Members will be allowed to ask him questions. The number of those that will ask questions is the prerogative of the presiding officer.”  

The nomination is in accordance with the provisions of section 146 subsection 3 which gives the National Assembly the power to approve the nomination. The section states that, “Where the office of Vice-President becomes vacant (a) by reason of death or resignation, impeachment, permanent incapacity or removal in accordance with section 143 or 144 of this Constitution; (b) by his assumption of the office of President in accordance with subsection (1) of this section; or (c) for any other reason, the President shall nominate and with the approval of each House of the National Assembly, appoint a new Vice-President.

However, confirming the receipt of Namadi’s nomination letter from the President, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Information and Media, Senator Ayogu Eze (PDP, Enugu North) said the Constitution doesn’t require screening for the new Vice President.

He told Daily Trust on phone that “He is not going to appear for screening because what Section 146 of the Constitution requires is for us to approve his nomination. It is not like the case of ministers which requires us to confirm after screening them.”

Eze added, “I wish to confirm that the Senate has received the letter nominating Governor Namadi Sambo to the position of Vice President. In accordance with our rules, the letter will be read as an official correspondence from Mr. President in plenary on Tuesday May 18, 2010.” He said, “Thereafter, a time and date will be set when the Senate shall approve the nomination in accordance with section 146 sub-section 3 of the 1999 Constitution.”

Also speaking to Daily Trust on the matter, Vice Chairman Senate Committee on Information and Media Senator Anthony Manzo (PDP, Taraba North) said the nomination of Sambo is to be approved by Senate tomorrow.

He said, “He will not face screening as the case of ministers. After the letter is read by the Senate President then it will be listed on the order paper for Wednesday. We are looking at conducting the approval on Wednesday because you know there will be FEC meeting that day. This is the first time that the National Assembly is approving nomination of a vice president and it is going to be like approval of Special Advisers to the President. All that is required is for the letter to move the motion and then a question will be put by the Senate President for approval by senators.”

Manzo said the approval will be conducted by voice vote. “All that is needed is a simple majority just like in the confirmation of ministers. There will be no counting because it is not one of the matters that require two/thirds or four/fifth majority votes as contained in the Constitution.”