Senate reverses standing rules amid pressure on Akpabio

The Nigerian Senate has overturned its earlier amendment to the Standing Orders, a decision that could reignite competition for key leadership positions in the 11th National Assembly.

The previous amendment had restricted eligibility for top Senate offices to senior lawmakers, effectively barring newly elected senators from vying for positions like Senate President and other principal roles.

With the reversal of the rule, both returning and first-time senators may now have the opportunity to compete for leadership roles, setting the stage for renewed political negotiations and fresh alignments within the Red Chamber.

The reversal followed a motion sponsored by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele and adopted under the supervision of Deputy Senate President Jubril Barau.

Under the amended Standing Orders, only senators who had served two terms were eligible to contest for principal offices, and one of the two terms had to be the immediate term preceding the nomination.

With the reversal, senators who were previously blocked from contesting for the Senate presidency and other principal offices now qualify for the positions.

This comes after a clash between Senate President God’swill Akpabio and Senator Adams Oshiomhole over the interpretation of the amended Standing Rules.

The disruption began after Akpabio commenced the reading of the Votes and Proceedings of Tuesday’s sitting and Oshiomhole, APC, Edo North, raised a point of order.

Akpabio ruled him out of order, citing the 2023 Standing Rules, which prohibit points of order during that stage of proceedings.