Confusion as Gov Ododo Reportedly Denied Entry at NASS

There was mild confusion on Wednesday following reports that Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo, was prevented from accessing the Senate chamber during the confirmation of the new Chief of Army Staff, Major-General Waheedi Shaibu.

Governor Ododo was reportedly at the National Assembly to show solidarity with Shaibu, who hails from Kogi State. However, sources told DAILY POST that security operatives stopped the governor from entering the chamber, marking the second time such an incident has allegedly occurred.

According to insiders, National Assembly officials justified the restriction, saying other state governors whose indigenes were also being confirmed did not attend the exercise.

“This is the second time they are walking the governor out of the Senate. He was earlier turned back during the confirmation of the INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, also from Kogi,” a source said.
“They told him that the Chief of Defence Staff is from Ekiti and the Chief of Naval Staff from Kano — yet none of their governors came.”

The source further alleged that Governor Ododo had not been formally invited to the hearing.

Kogi Government Denies Report

Reacting swiftly, Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Kingsley Fanwo, dismissed the claims as “baseless lies.”

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“Governor Ododo was not bounced or walked out of the Senate. He attended the screening in solidarity with the Chief of Army Staff from Kogi and later left to submit the APC governorship primary report in Ekiti State,” Fanwo said.

He insisted that the governor met with senators and stakeholders before departing, stressing that the National Assembly is a “responsible institution” that would not act in such a manner.

“Come to think of it, on what ground would anyone walk him out of the National Assembly? Did he violate any rule?” Fanwo asked.

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“Some disgruntled politicians are only trying to spread falsehood and baseless lies.”

As of press time, officials of the National Assembly had yet to comment on the reported incident.