The Senate has amended its standing rules to restrict eligibility for presiding and principal offices to senators who have served at least two consecutive terms.
Gatekeepers News reports that the amendment was adopted on Tuesday through a voice vote presided over by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, following a closed-door session that lasted about three hours.
The decision comes amid speculation that former senators Hope Uzodimma, Ifeanyi Okowa, and Ovie Omo-Agege may be planning a return to the Senate and could contest for leadership positions in 2027.
Under the revised rules, only senators in the current 10th Senate who are re-elected into the 11th Senate in 2027 will be eligible to contest for the positions of Senate President and Deputy Senate President.
The Senate also amended Orders 4 and 5 to tighten eligibility requirements for leadership positions in the National Assembly.
Order 4 maintains that nominations for presiding offices must strictly follow the ranking system, which includes former Senate presidents, former deputy Senate presidents, former principal officers, senators with at least one term, former members of the House of Representatives, and first-time senators where necessary.
Order 5 introduces a stricter requirement, stating that no senator shall qualify for any principal office unless he has served at least two consecutive terms immediately before nomination. The change effectively excludes incoming senators in the 11th National Assembly who did not serve in both the 9th and 10th Senates.
Presiding offices affected include the Senate President and Deputy Senate President, while principal offices cover roles such as Senate Leader, Deputy Senate Leader, Chief Whip, Deputy Chief Whip, Minority Leader, Deputy Minority Leader, Minority Whip, and Deputy Minority Whip.
The amendment sparked mild tension during proceedings, with Senator Adams Oshiomhole, representing Edo North, standing as the only dissenting voice. His attempt to raise a point of order was repeatedly overruled by the Senate President.
“This was not what we agreed at the closed-door session,” Oshiomhole reportedly said while Akpabio read out the resolutions.
Before the amendment, senators who had served at least one term (four years) were eligible to contest for presiding offices.
The Senate also introduced additional changes to its rules. Order 8(1) was amended to schedule committee meetings between 3 pm and 6 pm from Monday to Friday, except on the second and fourth Fridays of each month.
Order 8(2) now provides that plenary sessions will hold on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 11 am to 3 pm, unless extended by the Senate Leader.
