The Senate has confirmed Dr. Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) from Enugu State, as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
His confirmation took place on Thursday following a screening session where Udeh addressed questions from lawmakers and shared his vision for contributing to national development.
Udeh was escorted into the Senate chamber at 12:15 p.m. by the Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Senate Matters, marking the final phase of his appointment process.
President Tinubu had earlier submitted Udeh’s nomination to the Senate on Tuesday, citing Section 147(2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) as the basis for the appointment.
Tinubu expressed confidence in Udeh’s qualifications and urged the Senate to expedite the confirmation process.
Udeh’s nomination follows the resignation of Uche Nnaji, the former Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, who stepped down amid controversies over his academic and NYSC credentials.
Nnaji’s exit left Enugu State without representation in the Federal Executive Council, making Udeh’s appointment a critical move to fill the vacancy.
Before his nomination, Udeh served as the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Enugu State and was recently elevated to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
During the plenary, Senate President Godswill Akpabio referred Udeh’s nomination to the Committee of the Whole, which ultimately confirmed him as minister after a unanimous voice vote.