During the Senate plenary session, a significant twist unfolded as Maryam Shetty, a prominent leader of the All Progressive Congress (APC) from Kano State, faced an unexpected withdrawal of her nomination from the list of cabinet nominees.
President Bola Tinubu had initially sent Shetty’s name, along with 18 others, to the Senate for review and confirmation after the first batch of 28 nominations had been screened.
The withdrawal of Shetty’s nomination sparked conflicting responses from APC members on social media, with some raising concerns about her experience while others alleging that her removal was a result of political favoritism. Speculation emerged that Abdullahi Ganduje, the party’s national chairman, had influenced the decision in favor of another candidate.
Before the Senate screening, Mariya Mahmoud, the former Commissioner for Higher Education in Kano, replaced Shetty as the nominee. This sudden change took Shetty and her supporters by surprise, as they were informed of the substitution at the entrance of the Senate.
However, reports from The Cable claim that the real reason behind Shetty’s removal from the list of potential ministers was her staunch support for former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. Social media evidence revealed that Shetty had actively endorsed Osinbajo during his campaign for the APC presidential nomination and to succeed former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Shetty had actively shared tweets, photos, and videos from the Osinbajo presidential campaign. One notable instance was her sharing of the video in which the former vice president declared his intention to run for president on April 11, 2022, and embarked on nationwide consultations.
The revelation of her support for Osinbajo led to speculation that this alignment might have prompted her removal from the ministerial nominee list. The situation has sparked debates about the influence of political affiliations in the appointment of cabinet members and raised questions about the transparency of the nomination process.
As the controversy continues to unfold, the APC leadership faces the challenge of addressing the concerns raised by its members and the public. The Senate, on the other hand, will proceed with the confirmation process for the revised list of cabinet nominees, including Mariya Mahmoud, amid heightened attention and scrutiny from the nation.
