James Adamu
Senator Adams Oshiomhole has declared that Senate President Godswill Akpabio would not be qualified to occupy his position if the newly amended Senate leadership rules were applied fairly.
Speaking with journalists on Thursday, the Edo North lawmaker argued that the requirement mandating at least eight uninterrupted years in the Senate for presiding officers is a standard that Akpabio himself does not meet .
His remarks followed a heated plenary session on Wednesday, during which Akpabio threatened to have Oshiomhole ejected from the chamber .
Oshiomhole’s argument
Oshiomhole pointed to Akpabio’s legislative record, noting that the Senate President became Minority Leader on his first day in office during the 8th Senate.
“As we speak today, the Senate President has not spent up to eight years in office,” Oshiomhole said. “Even if you combine his previous tenure with the current one, it is still not up to eight years” .
He argued that if the new rule is passed, Akpabio should vacate his position to lead by example.
“So, if we pass a rule requiring anyone to spend eight consecutive years before becoming Senate President, then he should lead by example by vacating the position, because he himself did not meet that qualification before presiding” .
The former Edo State governor accused the Senate leadership of manipulating the rules to narrow the field of contenders for future leadership positions in the upper chamber .
“Naturally, more senators would now become eligible, which would broaden the field of competition,” he said. “And now he wants to shut that out” .
Just hours before Oshiomhole’s press conference, the Senate made a dramatic reversal. Following mounting criticism, the upper chamber rescinded the controversial amendment that had barred first-term and non-consecutive senators from contesting presiding offices .
The reversal was adopted on Thursday through a motion sponsored by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele and presided over by Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau .
This means the leadership contest for the 11th National Assembly is now open to all elected senators, regardless of tenure . The eight-year consecutive service requirement has been removed from the Senate Standing Orders.
The crisis began on Tuesday when the Senate, after a closed-door session lasting nearly three hours, amended its standing orders to introduce measures screening out many who would have aspired to leadership positions .
The now-rescinded Order 4 required that nominations for presiding officers strictly follow ranking, from former Senate Presidents down to second-term senators . Order 5 stated that only senators who had served at least two consecutive terms were eligible to contest for principal offices .
During Wednesday’s plenary, as Akpabio moved to confirm the votes and proceedings of Tuesday’s sitting, Oshiomhole repeatedly shouted “point of order” in an attempt to block adoption of the amended rules .
Akpabio ignored his calls, citing Order 38 of Senate rules, which outlines the proper stages for raising points of order. After Oshiomhole persisted, Akpabio issued a stern warning.
“Oshiomhole, if you become unruly, we will use the rules to take you out of the Senate,” Akpabio said .
Oshiomhole remained defiant following the confrontation.
“If others are afraid, I am not afraid,” he said. “The only person I fear is my Creator, because I have realised that whether you tell the truth or lies, the date of death cannot be shifted forward or backward” .
As of Thursday evening, Akpabio had not publicly responded to Oshiomhole’s statement or the Senate’s decision to reverse the amendment.
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