Senator Adams Oshiomhole has questioned the legitimacy of Senate President Godswill Akpabio's position, arguing that the new leadership rules requiring eight uninterrupted years in the Senate disqualify Akpabio himself. Speaking after Wednesday's plenary, Oshiomhole stated that Akpabio became Minority Leader on his first day in the 8th Senate and later ascended to Senate President without fulfilling the newly mandated tenure. The Edo North senator noted that even combining Akpabio's previous and current terms, the total falls short of eight consecutive years. He described the amendment as a targeted move to limit future competition for leadership roles in the upper chamber.
Oshiomhole accused the Senate leadership of undermining parliamentary tradition for political convenience, citing former Senate President David Mark's eight-year tenure under the old rules. He argued that the same rules allowed Akpabio to contest for Senate President, making the current changes inconsistent. The amendment, part of revised standing orders adopted after a closed-door session, now limits nominations for presiding officers to lawmakers with at least two consecutive terms. It also mandates ranking from former Senate Presidents down to second-term senators.
The controversy followed a heated exchange during plenary when Akpabio refused to recognise Oshiomhole's point of order while confirming previous proceedings. Oshiomhole claimed he was not intimidated by the backlash, saying only God commands his life. He maintained that altering rules to benefit specific individuals sets a dangerous precedent in legislative leadership.
Adams Oshiomhole highlights a contradiction in Akpabio's position: he enforces a rule that invalidates his own qualification for Senate President. If eight consecutive years are now essential, Akpabio's rise under the old system makes his continued stay in office inconsistent with the new standard. This puts senators elected under previous rules at risk of disqualification by standards they did not originally face. The change benefits current officeholders while restricting future contenders from the same path they took.
Editorial note: AI-assisted opinion, not established fact. Full disclaimer →
