Olushola Omogbehin
The Senate has removed controversial amendments to its Standing Orders 2026 sequel to concerns by lawmakers that some of the provisions were not in agreement with the 1999 Constitution.
The reversal came hours after the upper chamber amended portions of its rules, a move that had generated controversy and sharp exchanges among senators.
On Thursday, Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, moved the motion for the rescission and recommittal of the affected provisions during plenary.
According to him: “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.”
Explaining, he said the Senate observed that provisions introduced on May 5, can lead to increased constitutional inconsistencies and unintended tensions with the Constitution.
Citing Section 52 of the 1999 Constitution, Bamidele noted 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.”
In his reaction, the 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.”
After the adoption of the motion, Adams Oshiomhole cautioned against rushing legislative amendments without wider consultation. He also called on Senate President Godswill Akpabio to resign from office.
“I believe the average age in this Senate is over 40, so we don’t have an excuse for youthful exuberance.
“So, when we are making a law, we should accommodate diverse views. That way, what one person forgot, the other person will remember. Future amendments should be subjected to debate before passage.”
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.”
The amendments had come amid growing interest by outgoing governors and political heavyweights, many of whom are positioning to enter the Senate in 2027 to contest for top leadership roles such as Senate President and Deputy Senate President.
No fewer than 10 governors and several former governors are already angling to secure senatorial tickets, leveraging their influence over party structures to emerge as consensus candidates in their respective states.
Also, Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, currently in his second term but whose tenure will end in January 2028, has obtained form for the Senate, with political analysts suggesting he may be angling for the Senate Presidency.
