Senate Adopts Rule Changes Restricting Presidential Elections to Ranking Members
In a significant move to consolidate stability within its ranks, the Senate leadership has ratified an amendment to its standing rules, limiting eligibility for key positions.
According to the revised rule, only ranking members will be eligible to stand for elections and assume the roles of President and Deputy President of the Senate.
This development comes on the heels of what many perceive as an attempted impeachment against the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, a mere two weeks ago in the 10th Senate.
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The amendment, championed by Senate Majority Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, focuses on Section Three of the Senate Standing Orders.
It now mandates that to vie for the positions of Senate President or Deputy President, a senator must have served a minimum of one term, equivalent to four years, in the Senate.
The new provision effectively bars first-term senators from contention for the highest offices in the Red Chambers.
Titled “Amendment of the Standing Orders of the Senate pursuant to Order 109 of the Senate Standing Orders, 2022 (As Amended),” this motion aims to fortify the Senate’s internal structure and maintain stability in its leadership.
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However, critics of this amendment argue that it may run counter to the 1999 constitution (As amended).
Section 50(1) of the constitution explicitly states that, “there shall be a President and a Deputy President of the Senate, who shall be elected by the members of that House from among themselves.”
In addition to this rule change, the Senate has expanded its committees, introducing nine new Standing Committees.
This brings the total number of Senate committees to 83, up from the previous count of 74.
During the inauguration of the 10th Senate in June, the former Zamfara State governor, Abdulaziz Yari, secured 46 votes in the race for the Senate Presidency, while Godswill Akpabio garnered 63 votes.
In response to the alarm raised by the office of the Senate President regarding an alleged plot against Akpabio, the Northern Senators Forum issued a disclaimer.
They condemned what they saw as an attempt by Akpabio to sow discord between senators and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
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Human rights groups have labeled the Senate’s amendment to its rules, particularly concerning the election of the Senate President and Deputy, as unconstitutional.
Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, the Executive Director of the Human Rights Writers Association (HURIWA), argued that these amendments infringe on section 42(1) of the Constitution, which stipulates that government policies should not discriminate against any category of citizens.
Onwubiko also criticized the practicality of allowing only ranking members to vie for leadership roles in a legislative body where a significant proportion of senators do not get re-elected.
He urged affected senators to pursue legal action to challenge these amendments, asserting that they serve narrow interests and run counter to progressive ideals.
