Akakan Umoh
After mounting pressure, the Senate has dumped its earlier decision on amendments made to its Standing Orders over constitutional breaches relating to the inauguration of Senators-elect and the election of presiding officers of the chamber.
Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele moved the motion for the rescission and recommittal of the affected provisions during plenary on Wednesday.
Bamidele said, “The Senate accordingly resolves to rescind its earlier decisions relating to the amendments made to Order 2(2) and Order 3(1) of the Senate Standing Orders, 2026.”
Also read:
- Senate bows to pressure, adopts e-transmission of election results
- Nigerian Senate Proposes Death for Kidnapping, Wants Citizens to Own Guns
- Senate Proposes Life Sentence For Child Sexual Abuse Offenders
He explained that the Senate observed that provisions introduced on May 5, 2026, “may give rise to constitutional inconsistencies and unintended tensions” with the Constitution.
He cited Section 52 of the 1999 Constitution, noting that senators-elect could participate in the election of presiding officers before taking their oaths.
“In other words, Mr President and distinguished colleagues, election of the officers will have to take place, as it had always been, before the swearing-in of senators,” he said.
The reversed Order 3(1) had provided that: “A Senator-elect shall not participate in any proceedings of the Senate, including voting for the election of the President and Deputy President of the Senate, unless and until he has taken the Oaths prescribed in the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
However, senators are traditionally sworn in after electing presiding officers under the supervision of the Clerk of the National Assembly, in line with Section 52 of the Constitution.
Responding, Senate President Godswill Akpabio said: “This is a very straightforward motion. It is just for us to go in conformity with the Constitution.
“We don’t need any debate on this.”
Following the adoption of the motion, Adams Oshiomhole cautioned against rushing legislative amendments without wider consultation.
“I believe the average age in this Senate is over 40, and so we don’t have excuse for youthful exuberance,” he said.
“So when we are making a law, we should accommodate diverse views. That way, what one person forgot, the other person will remember.”
He added that future amendments should be subjected to debate before passage.
Reacting, Bamidele faulted the drama that trailed the earlier amendment process, during which Oshiomhole and Akpabio clashed over the procedure, saying lawmakers with objections should channel them through substantive motions.
“We cannot allow this kind of drama to go on in the Senate. We must put a stop to it,” he said.
“This drama must stop because it is not helping the image of this institution. This is the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
The amendment also changed the eligibility of senators to contest election as presiding officers to now state: Order 3(3), “A Senator shall not be eligible to contest as a Presiding Officer in an election unless he has been elected and served as a Senator for at least two terms of eight years, one term of which shall immediately precede such election.”
Other approved amendments affected sitting hours, committee representation across geopolitical zones, suspension procedures and the creation of committees on Livestock Development, Reparations and Repatriations, and regional development commissions.
Akpabio, Oshiomhole clash over amended Senate rules
Recall that the Senate was thrown into disorder on Wednesday for over 15 minutes following a heated exchange between Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senator Adams Oshiomhole over the interpretation of amended Standing Rules.
Under the revised provisions, only lawmakers who have served at least two consecutive terms or held previous leadership positions in the Senate will be eligible to contest for top positions, including Senate President.
The disruption began after Akpabio commenced the reading of the Votes and Proceedings of Tuesday’s sitting when Oshiomhole, APC, Edo North, raised a point of order.
The Senate President ruled him out of order, citing the 2023 Standing Rules, which prohibit points of order during that stage of proceedings.
Oshiomhole persisted with: ‘Point of order’, prompting Akpabio to call on former Chief Whip, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, to clarify the rules.
Kalu supported the Senate President’s position, stating that points of order were not permitted at that time.
Despite repeated warnings, Oshiomhole continued, leading Chief Whip Senator Tahir Monguno to caution that disciplinary powers could be invoked if the disruption persisted.
Akpabio said, “We should not just go home, buy forms and come here without knowing the rules.”
While continuing the session, the Senate President issued a stern warning to Oshiomhole, stating, “If you become unruly, we will use the rules to take you out of the Senate.”
Order was eventually restored, and the chamber proceeded with its business.
Senator Adamu Aliero moved for the adoption of the Votes and Proceedings, which was seconded by Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro.
The clash is believed to be linked to the Senate’s recent amendment of its Standing Rules ahead of the 2027 general elections.
On Tuesday, the Senate amended Orders 4 and 5, restricting eligibility for presiding and principal offices to senators who have served at least two consecutive terms, including the immediate past term.
The amendment effectively limits contest for positions such as Senate President and Deputy Senate President to returning members of the current 10th Assembly.
