“I Will Take You Out of the Senate” — Akpabio Warns Oshiomhole

James Adamu

Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Wednesday threatened to send Senator Adams Oshiomhole out of the chamber after a heated clash over new Senate rules.”I will take you out of the Senate,” Akpabio warned.The Senate on Tuesday approved sweeping amendments to its Standing Orders.

The new rules introduce stricter eligibility for leadership positions.Under the amended Orders 4 and 5, no senator can contest for a principal office unless they have served at least two consecutive terms (eight years), with one term immediately preceding the nomination.

Nominations for Senate President and other presiding officers must follow a strict ranking order, favouring former Senate presidents, former principal officers, and senators with at least one full four-year term.

First-term senators can only contest if no candidate emerges from higher categories.The amendments effectively bar incoming senators in the 2027 Assembly from contesting leadership if they are not members of the current 10th Senate. The Senate also extended plenary sittings from three to five days weekly.

Trouble began when Oshiomhole repeatedly raised points of order during the reading of Votes and Proceedings. He argued that the new rules would limit inclusiveness and restrict democratic rights. He insisted that competence, not tenure, should determine leadership.

Akpabio dismissed his objections, stating that no point of order is permitted during the reading of Votes and Proceedings under the amended rules. The Senate President called on Senator Orji Uzor Kalu to guide his colleague.

Kalu described Oshiomhole’s conduct as “tautological.” The interruptions persisted.Akpabio cautioned the former Edo State governor: “If you are a soldier, you behave like a soldier. If you are a police officer, you behave like a police officer.

So if you are a senator, you must go by the rules.”He then ruled Oshiomhole out of order and struck his gavel.

But Oshiomhole continued to speak from his seat.Chief Whip Mohammed Monguno intervened: “Senator Oshiomhole, be guided, otherwise I will invoke the powers of the office of the Chief Whip against you.

“Akpabio delivered the final warning: “If you become unruly, I will take you out of the Senate.”Oshiomhole then backed down.Observers link the new rules to the anticipated contest for Senate Presidency in 2027.

The amendments would disqualify several political heavyweights eyeing a return to the Senate, including Governor Hope Uzodinma, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, and Senator Kabiru Marafa — none of whom are members of the current 10th Senate.

A ranking senator, speaking anonymously, described the move as “a pre-emptive strike to shape the leadership succession in the next Assembly.”