Ministerial Nominees: Buhari set to appoint only card carrying Members of the APC

Following calls for the appointment of minister under the present administration, President Muhammadu Buhari is said to be closing in on card carrying members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

This paper reports that the president has compiled the list of members of the party who have been selected to serve as cabinet members under his administration.

Sources within the presidency said the compiled list is awaiting dispatch to Senate President Ahmed Lawan, possibly Monday, July 1.

The sources also said that the screening of the ministerial nominees involved the verification of their names from the database of the APC with a view to ensuring that they are authentic members of the party.

Getting maximum senate co-operation in approving the ministerial list was the key reason for last week’s meeting between Buhari and Lawan

Highly placed sources said last night that the ministerial nominees list may be sent to the Senate President tomorrow.

The President has kept the list to himself to foreclose any leakage.

Sources said President Buhari had audience with Lawan on his vision for the nation and his ministerial nominees.

The source also said that the president reviewed the last four years and was displeased that the 8th National Assembly did all it could to hamper his administration.

“Buhari actually repeated his determination to leave legacies in the next four years and he asked Lawan to ensure that he gets the required cooperation from the lawmakers,” a source said.

“He (Buhari) said he is ready to present his list of ministerial nominees to the Senate for confirmation in line with his agenda to really work on a fast pace this time around.

According to the source, the president of the 9th Senate has also assured President Buhari of cooperation from both chambers.

He said Lawan also advised President Buhari to look for capable hands that will help him to fulfill his desire to leave sustainable legacies after two terms in office.

“Security agencies have worked round the clock to screen and verify the dossiers of some of these nominees. In fact, the names of some of them, suspected to be coming on party basis, were sent for verification from the database of APC.

“There is anxiety within the party, among ex-ministers and some associates of the President because no one is sure of those to be appointed by the President.

“Buhari still keeps the list to himself and he has cautioned against any leak of the list. It is this secrecy that has heightened the jostle to be in the cabinet,” a source added.

Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that some immediate past ministers are set for a return to the Federal Executive Council.

Presidency sources quoted in the report said a number of former cabinet members would make the list.

The cabinet list, according to one of the source, will reach the Senate, barely one month after President Buhari’s inauguration; to give senators ample time to screen the nominees before they commence on summer break on Friday, July 26.