The Senate yesterday confirmed Prof. Shuaibu Oba Abdulraheem as chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC) after they rejected moves by Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki to stop his confirmation.

Saraki and Senator Mohammed Shaaba Lafiagi both from Kwara State had protested the nomination of Prof. Abdulraheem for a second term as FCC chairman by President Goodluck Jonathan.

However, the senate committee on federal character and inter-governmental affairs led by Senator Dahiru Awaisu Kuta (PDP, Niger) held a confirmation hearing where it screened Abdulraheem and three other nominees as chairman and members of the commission and turned in a report recommending their confirmation by the senate.

Based on senate's convention Saraki and Lafiagi's protest had stalled the confirmation for weeks until yesterday when the report was listed on the senate's order paper for consideration.

Although both Saraki and Lafiagi were not in the senate yesterday when the matter came up for consideration, the senate minority leader George Akume (APC, Benue), opposed the confirmation of Abdulraheem accusing him of favoritism and marginalization.

But it was Senator Esther Nenadi Usman (PDP, Kaduna), who informed her colleagues that she and Senator James Manager (PDP, Delta) had gone to plead with Saraki in his officer to drop his opposition to Abdulraheem's nomination.

Senate President David Mark pleaded with his colleagues not to sacrifice merit for local politics. Consequently, the red chamber confirmed the nomination of Abdulraheem as chairman, Dr. Femi Ogunsola, Isinpr Ifaluyi and Mrs. Adaeze Gloria Idigo-Izundu as members of the commission for another fresh term of five years.