The Senate on Thursday reversed its recent amendment to Orders 2(2) and 3(1) of the 2023 Senate Standing Orders, restoring the previous rules on leadership eligibility.
Lawmakers said the changes conflicted with the 1999 Constitution. The earlier amendment had restricted principal leadership positions to senators serving at least a second term, effectively barring first-term senators in the 11th National Assembly set to begin in June 2027.
The move would have affected senators including Hope Uzodimma, Kabiru Marafa, and Adams Oshiomhole, all linked to bids for principal offices.
Tensions flared on Wednesday when Oshiomhole tried to raise a point of order over the amendment during the adoption of votes and proceedings. Senate President Godswill Akpabio threatened to eject him from the chamber, but the Senate still passed the changes.
On Thursday, Senate Leader Bamidele Opeyemi moved a motion to rescind the amendment. He argued that the new clauses created “constitutional inconsistencies and unintended tensions” with Section 52 of the Constitution.
“Upon further legislative and constitutional review, certain provisions may give rise to constitutional inconsistencies,” Bamidele said. He added that the Senate retains the power to revisit and rescind decisions to protect legislative integrity.
Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, who presided, called the motion “straightforward and necessary” for constitutional compliance.
Oshiomhole welcomed the reversal but criticized the rushed process. “The way we rushed the rules because certain people wanted certain things concluded is one flaw in this process. Next time, we should allow for robust debates,” he said.
Bamidele responded under Rule 52(6), cautioning that senators should bring formal rescission motions instead of disrupting proceedings. He said the drama from the previous day had overshadowed legislative business and should not continue.