The All Progressives Congress (APC) has thrown its weight behind former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi and other embattled ministerial nominees, saying they are above board.
The petitions against their nominations, the party said, could not stop their screening by the Senate.
According to APC National Secretary, Mallam Mai Malla Buni, the petitions do not amount to conviction.
The Senate until now had not screened Amaechi, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri (Bayelsa), Hajia Aisha Abubakar (Sokoto) and Hajia Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed (Kaduna).
Their screening is expected to hold between today and tomorrow.
Buni, who spoke with The Nation last night, said the party would support all the nominees irrespective of the petitions against them.
He said: “On this ministerial screening, the party is behind all its nominees. That is why the APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, and key members of the National Working Committee (NWC) have attended the screening of nominees to give them moral support.
“As far as we are concerned, the petitions against some nominees cannot stop their screening because petitions are not court verdicts.
“A mere petition cannot be a conviction. These nominees are not guilty until otherwise proven by a court of competent jurisdiction. We are throwing our weight behind the nominees.”
