EXCLUSIVE: Senate Divided Over Reno Omokri’s Nomination As Past ‘Drug Baron’ Remark About Tinubu Sparks Row, Shutdown Of WhatsApp Group

Multiple parliamentary sources told SaharaReporters that Senate President Godswill Akpabio was instrumental in pushing Omokri’s name forward, allegedly as a reward for political work Omokri had done for him.

There is mounting tension in the Nigerian Senate following the nomination of social media commentator and former presidential aide, Reno Omokri, as an ambassadorial nominee, an appointment that has triggered factional battles, and the shutdown of the lawmakers’ WhatsApp group.

Omokri was among the 32 names forwarded to the Senate for confirmation, but his inclusion has provoked a storm, especially over his past public criticism of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, including a controversial remark in which he once labelled the President a “drug baron”.

Multiple parliamentary sources told SaharaReporters that Senate President Godswill Akpabio was instrumental in pushing Omokri’s name forward, allegedly as a reward for political work Omokri had done for him.

Meanwhile, in an unexpected twist, Akpabio is said to be mobilising his loyalists to oppose the same nominee he helped elevate.

“The senate president had nominated Omokri as a reward for the hatchet job he did for him,” one source disclosed.

“However, Akpabio is rallying some of his clique to screen Omokri out on the claim that he once attacked Tinubu and called him a drug baron.”

Another source revealed that Senator Osita Ngwu of Enugu West has taken a lead role in mobilising resistance against Omokri.

Ngwu has allegedly been reaching out to colleagues, urging them to reject the nominee on grounds of impropriety, arguing that anyone who made such serious allegations against a sitting President cannot credibly represent Nigeria on the global stage.

Senator Osita Ngwu, representing Enugu West Senatorial District, is reported to be rallying senators to reject Omokri with sources revealing that Ngwu has been attacking colleagues against the move.

“Senator Osita Ngwu, representing Enugu West Senatorial District, is reported to be rallying senators to reject Omokri,” an insider noted.

“Ngwu has been attacking colleagues against the move.”

The disagreements reportedly spiralled into a larger internal crisis when a Senate WhatsApp group, used for routine communication among lawmakers, was abruptly locked after arguments over Omokri’s nomination intensified.

Senator Ngwu, said to be one of the administrators of the group, allegedly disabled responses to prevent further confrontations. This angered several senators who insisted they had been silenced.

But Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, a vocal figure in the Senate, publicly confronted Ngwu over the group shutdown and demanded that he reopen the platform and restore comments that had been deleted during the altercation.

“Dear Senator Osita Ngwu of Enugu Enugu West Senatorial District, you will open responses in the Senators WhatsApp forum and repost my deleted comments,” she posted.

“Else I’ll bring the discussion to the public domain.”

Ngwu insisted anyone who had called the president a drug baron cannot represent the president and country.

He said, “Someone who called the President of Nigeria a drug baron and who has not retracted the statement should not represent Nigeria and Nigerians in the international and diplomatic society.

“It’s about the office of the President not about an individual.

“Meanwhile, bring it up...”

His defiance further inflamed tension among senators already divided over the nomination.

The source told SaharaReporters that despite the uproar, the Senate is expected to begin screening the ambassadorial nominees on Tuesday.

SaharaReporters previously reported that former presidential aide to Goodluck Jonathan, Omokri, once swore never to accept any appointment or work with President Bola Tinubu.

Omokri was one of Tinubu’s fiercest critics prior to the 2023 presidential election, questioning his record, qualifications, and integrity.

Although he later softened his criticism after confirming Tinubu attended Chicago University.

Reno made the remarks during an appearance on the Mic On podcast, hosted by journalist Seun Okinbaloye, where Omokri was asked directly if he would accept an offer from Tinubu.

“It will never happen,” he said.

Pressed further on whether any scenario could make him reconsider, he added:

“Oh my gosh, I don't want to betray privilege. Somebody from Bola Tinubu's camp has already reached out to me, and I told the person that, look, it cannot happen.

“I can't do it. It's just against my principles. Some people can do that. It's not in my DNA. I can't do it.

“It's never going to happen. It's never going to happen. I wish Bola Tinubu well if he eventually is sworn in and then the court upholds his victory. But I can never work with him.”