The senate on Thursday approved the appointment of 45 non-career ambassadors by President Muhammadu Buhari.

However, two of the nominees, from Imo and Ondo States respectively, were rejected

According to the lawmakers, their rejection was based on the recommendation of the Senate committee on foreign affairs which screened the nominees

The rejected nominees were Sylvanus Nsofor, an 82-year old retired judge from Imo State and Jacob Daudu from Ondo.

Chairman of the foreign affairs committee Monsurat Sunmonu, told the plenary that during the screening exercise, Nsofor had refused to recite the National Anthem, questioning the reason why the lawmakers should ask him to recite it.

Also, when asked how he intends to effectively discharge his responsibility, given his advanced age, Nsofor was quoted as replying the lawmakers to ask President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe how he has managed to lead his country despite his age.

Jacob Daudu on the other hand was rejected based on a negative report from the Department of State Security, DSS, which indicted him of corruption.

Recall that the senate had rejected the initial list sent by the President in November 2016.

Buhari however sent a revised list on January 12 this year.

In a similar development, the senate has received the list of 28 nominees by President Buhari as Resident Electoral Commissioners, RECs, in the various states of the federation.

The letter, which was dated February 27 and signed by then acting President Yemi Osinbajo, was read during Thursday’s plenary by Senate President Bukola Saraki.

Some of the RECs‎ were renominated by Buhari following the expiration of their tenure.

Recall that Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, had in September 2016 blamed the cases of inconclusive elections across the country on the absence of RECs in about 20 states across the country.