The Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs has summoned the Chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), Prof Shuaibu Abdulrahman Oba, for fresh screening, it was learnt yesterday.

Although Oba was the chairman of the commission, he resigned to contest the 2011 governorship election in Kwara State, but failed.

His return to the office generated a lot of controversy as the then Acting Chairman of the FCC, Alhaji Mohammadu Ari Gwaska, accused him of breaching civil service rules which prohibit an officer who resigned to contest an election from returning to the seat he willingly vacated to go into politics.

However, Oba had his way, while the Senate charged Gwaska with insubordination and was shown the way out of the commission.

Gwaska was then the National Commissioner representing Nasarawa State.

Part C of the Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) states that the Chairman and members of the FCC shall be appointed by the President, subject to the confirmation of the Senate.

But there are fears that Oba may not have a smooth sail this time round becuase two senators from Kwara State are said to have opposed his reappointment.

A source close to the Senator Dahiru Kuta-led Committee on Federal Character said there were petitions before the committee against the former University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) Vice-Chancellor.

Another source close to the FCC chief said he may have "bitten the fingers that fed him", prompting the stiff opposition to his clearance by the Senate.

The summons by the committee was said to have caught the FCC chief by surprise.

The source said Oba is presently doing all he can to appease the leadership of the Kwara State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to retain his job.

The source added: "After he served out his term as the chairman of FCC, which he got through the political leader of Kwara State, Senator Bukola Saraki, he went lobbying the Presidency to serve a second term that he knew he might not get from the state due to zoning arrangement of political offices in the state, which did not favour him.

"He started a cold war with Senator Saraki and he was able to get a second term from the Presidency through a letter from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

"He organised a prayer session at the Emir's palace in Ilorin, which was not attended by the party leadership. He also commissioned news stories and opinion articles in many online portals, saying the party leadership in the state did not have input in how he got his second term appointment, having it in mind that he needed not to be confirmed by the Senate.

"But his joy was short-lived two weeks ago when he was informed by the SGF that he would need to go back to the Senate for confirmation.

"This shocked him and his supporters, who had believed that he didn't need the two-thirds of the state or at least the support of two senators from the state to get Senate's confirmation.

"With this new development and having known that he altered the state political zoning formula, he reached out to a party leader in the state to help him beg Senator Saraki."