Senators Fault Akpabio’s Move To Amend Senate Rules. Several lawmakers within the green chamber have criticized the Senate President’s move to amend laws allowing first time senators to contest for Presiding Officers of the National Assembly.
Kano —
Some senators have faulted the Akpabio’s move to amend Senate rules, mandating only senators who have spent at least eight years in the chamber the right to contest for the positions of senate president and deputy senate president.
The senators expressed their dissatisfaction over the amendment while speaking with journalists after plenary on Thursday.
The amendment has generated controversy since it was first introduced in the chamber on Tuesday because it appears to affect several potential aspirants for the position
Critics say Mr Akpabio introduced the amendment to pave way for his re-election as senate president in 2027. However, supporters say it allows for only vastly experienced senators to emerge as presiding officers of the Senate.
Senators Fault Akpabio’s Move To Amend Senate Rules
Prior to the amendment, Senate rules allowed any ranking senator to contest for presiding offices. Ranking is a parliamentary term defined as one who has served at least four years.
The Senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, despite being a member of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) which has the majority seats in the Green Chamber has been at the forefront in criticizing the amendment.
The reactions from several lawmakers whenever the issue is in the limelight reveals that many senators are uncomfortable with the provisions, although many remained silent for fear of political victimisation.
Addressing journalists after Thursday’s plenary, Mr Oshiomhole claimed the procedure used to amend the rules contradicted the constitution and the established parliamentary practices.
Senators Fault Akpabio’s Move To Amend Senate Rules
He further argued that the matter should have been decided by a two-thirds majority rather than through a voice vote.
The former governor of Edo State, said he openly opposed the amendment because he wanted Nigerians to know the lawmakers behind ‘self-serving’ legislation.
“To determine the decision of the Senate, you want to use the ‘ayes’ and the ‘nays.’ It is open to abuse. I wanted Nigerians to know who those senators are who are making laws that are self-centred and what I consider to be a selfish interest. So, the nays and ayes are not determined properly; that was my position” he stated
I want Nigerians to see who are those senators who are trying to narrow the future leadership to themselves as if it’s a family or traditional rulership,” he added
Senators Fault Akpabio’s Move To Amend Senate Rules
Mr Oshiomhole further described the amendment as deceptive and unconstitutional arguing that that it did not follow due constitutional procedure.
The point I was making yesterday was that once you don’t follow the procedure to make the law or to make a rule, you’re putting something on nothing because the procedure is deceptive; that was the point I was trying to correct,” he said
Senator Oshiomhole also clarified that following the tenets of the amendment,Mr Akpabio should not be the senate president.
“Even the senate president has not done eight years in office. Even if you count the previous one plus the current one, it is not yet up to eight years.
Senators Fault Akpabio’s Move To Amend Senate Rules
So, if we pass the rule that we must do eight consecutive years before you can be senate president, he has to lead by example by vacating, that is actually the appropriate way” he stated
“David Mark had the honour and privilege of serving as senate president for eight years, not by playing with the rules. Those rules that enabled David Mark to stay for eight years, what is wrong with them? Those rules that enabled this senate president to contest for senate presidency, what is wrong with them? Why change it now?” he queried
Similarly, Bauchi Central Senator, Abdul Ningi, said the amendment was not in the interests of the lawmakers because they are ment to serve the interest of a few selfish people.
Mr Ningi referenced a similar situation during the amendment of the Electoral Act when some lawmakers raised objections to certain clauses but the Senate leadership proceeded regardless.
Senators Fault Akpabio’s Move To Amend Senate Rules
“This is self-serving and self-centred from those who moved it and those who opposed it. You’re a living witness when we stood up on this floor to raise our concerns about the Electoral Act as presented before the Senate.Having worked in the committee on Electoral Matters for almost two years, we raised serious concerns about some provisions that are in the Electoral Act” he said
“In the name of party supremacy, people kept quiet. Now, because some people feel they have ambition…This particular matter is not about Nigeria; it is about the Senate and those who want to aspire,” he added
Ningi also pointed out that some principal officers and committee chairpersons were appointed despite being first-term senators.
“In 2023, when we came here, this particular ranking was thrown under the box. You could see the principal officers who are coming to the Senate for the first time, and a senator who is coming to the Senate for the first time. The biggest of the committees was given to new senators. After three and a half years, how have those senators performed as chairmen of committees? Sometimes, when they come, they cannot even preside” he questioned
” People make noise when it touches them. There are committees that have been set up for three and a half years, whose chairmen have not called for one meeting except when it is budget. So time the entire scenario has been seen as personalised, and therefore until we’re ready to cure this menace, we’ll continue to see it because a lot of laws are passed tailored to particular groups, tailored to particular party advantage, and tailored to certain individuals” he said
Senators Fault Akpabio’s Move To Amend Senate Rules
The highly emotional session exposed deep divisions in the upper chamber over the new rules, which effectively barred senators, who were not members of the 10th Assembly, from contesting for positions, such as Senate President and Deputy Senate President, in the 11th National Assembly.
The alteration to Senate Standing Orders is widely seen as a calculated move to shelve the ambitions of governors, ex-senators, and other high-profile politicians expected to enter the senate in 2027, especially Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma who has already picked form for return to Senate after concluding two terms as Governor.
He is seen as a major threat to Akpabio retaining his position of Senate President in the 11th senate. The new rule effectively rules out Uzodimma from any potential run for Senate President in the 11th Senate.