Senate never rejected my ministerial nomination, Tinubu changed his mind – El-Rufai

Kunle Sanni

Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has dismissed claims that his ministerial nomination was rejected by the National Assembly, instead pointing to President Bola Tinubu as the reason behind his exclusion from the federal cabinet.

In an interview with Arise TV on Monday, El-Rufai clarified that contrary to public belief, the Senate had not rejected him during the screening process.

In July 2023, President Tinubu nominated El-Rufai, among 28 candidates for ministerial positions. El-Rufai’s screening by the Senate took place on August 1, 2023.

Subsequently, on August 8, 2023, the Senate withheld El-Rufai’s confirmation, citing pending security checks.

But in his interview, El-Rufai clarified that his ministerial appointment was not blocked by the National Assembly but was due to President Tinubu changing his mind.

He, therefore, asserted that it was President Tinubu who ultimately decided not to include him in his administration.

“Please don’t believe the story that the National Assembly rejected me. The president did not want me in his cabinet. He changed his mind,” El-Rufai said during the interview.

The former governor revealed that certain conditions were initially attached to his appointment, but along the line, circumstances changed—leading to the withdrawal of his nomination.

“There were certain conditions attached to that. I think along the line, either the president changed his mind or something else,” he added.