Press Release
The Nigerian Senate has described as untrue and a deliberate attempt to mislead the public the media report purporting that the recent adjustments in the Senate Rules as passed on Tuesday have been upturned on the order of the Presidency.
In an exclusive interview after plenary with the Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human rights and Legal Matters, Adeniyi Adegbomire, SAN, said, “One of the Orders that was considered was about whether you should take your oath of alliance and membership before elections. The proposal that was passed among others on Tuesday was that you be sworn in before you can vote. It was just procedural change.
A press release by Jackson Udom, Special Assistant to President of the Senate On Media on Friday, said “In the past, you don’t have to be sworn in before you vote for the Senate President and Deputy Senate President and now they said be sworn in first, before election. Members were of the opinion that the constitution says YOU MAY, so that there won’t be any controversy thereafter, we decided to revert to the old Order.
Also read: Senate Reverses Election Procedure for Presiding Officers
“The issue of eligibility stays and it is different from what we rescinded. We rescinded the order of oath taking and eligibility to contest election. This is for clarity.”
The revert to the old procedure was contained in the Senate Order Paper of Thursday captioned: Recession and Recommital of Order 2(2) and Order 3(1) argued that the change in procedure of the Senate may give rise to constitutional inconsistencies and unintended tensions with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, particularly Section 52 thereof.
The Senate, it was gathered, noted that it is necessary to ensure that the Standing Orders of the Senate remain fully consistent with constitutional provisions established parliamentary conventions and Legislative Practice.
Eligibility Issue in Senate Standing Rules
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Senate had amended its standing rules to restrict eligibility for presiding and principal offices to Senators who have served at least two consecutive terms.
The amendment was adopted on Tuesday following a voice vote presided over by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The decision comes amid speculation that former Senators Hope Uzodimma, Ifeanyi Okowa and Ovie Omo-Agege are considering a return to the Red Chambers and a possible bid for the Senate Presidency in 2027.
The revised rules stipulate that only senators in the current 10th Senate who secure re-election into the 11th Senate in 2027 will be eligible to contest for the positions of Senate President and Deputy Senate President.
The amendment followed a closed-door session that lasted about three hours.
The senate also amended orders 4 and 5 to narrow the scope of eligibility for leadership positions in the 11th National Assembly.
Order 4 provides that nomination of Senators for presiding offices must strictly follow ranking.
The ranking includes the former Senate President, former Deputy Senate President, former principal officers, Senators who have served at least one term, former members of the House of Representatives, and first-time Senators where others are unavailable.
Order 5 introduces an additional requirement for principal offices.
It states that no senator shall be eligible to contest for any principal office unless he has served at least two consecutive terms immediately preceding nomination.
The amendment effectively excludes incoming senators in the 11th National Assembly who were not part of the 9th and 10th Senates.
Presiding offices in the Senate include Senate President and Deputy Senate President.
Principal offices include Senate Leader, Deputy Senate Leader, Chief Whip, Deputy Chief Whip, Minority Leader, Deputy Minority Leader, Minority Whip and Deputy Minority Whip.
The amendment also affects potential aspirants for the 2027 leadership of the Senate.
Adams Oshiomhole, the Senator representing Edo North, was the lone dissenting voice as the Senate adopted the resolutions by voice vote.
Attempts by the former Edo state governor to raise a point of order were repeatedly rebuffed by the Senate President.
“This was not what we agreed at the closed-door session,” Oshiomhole said as Akpabio read the resolutions.
Before the amendment, any ranking Senator – defined as one who had served at least four years – could contest for the presiding offices.
The Senate also introduced additional changes to its rules.
Order 8 (1) was amended to fix committee meetings between 3 p.m and 6 p.m from Monday to Friday, except on the second and fourth Fridays of each month.
Order 8 (2) now provides that plenary sessions shall be held on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. unless extended by the Senate Leader.
Section 55 (11) was amended to allow presiding officers and nominees undergoing screening to drink water during the plenary.
Section 66 (8) was revised to require suspended Senators to withdraw from the plenary as directed by the senate president, with the duration of suspension to be determined by resolution.
Section 94 (1) stipulates that committees shall have between seven and 25 members.
It also provides that no senator shall serve on more than seven committees, with appointments reflecting the six geopolitical zones.
Akpabio subsequently directed Emmanuel Odo, Clerk of the Senate, to update the standing rules accordingly.
