Oshiomhole argued that since the Senate President has not completed eight years in office, he should lead by example by vacating his position.
By Kehinde Okeowo
Former Edo State governor and federal lawmaker, Adams Oshiomhole, has demanded the resignation of Senate President Godswill Akpabio over the way he has handled the affairs of the upper chamber of Nigeria’s legislative branch.
The Senator representing Edo North made the call on Thursday in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), while speaking to journalists.
Oshiomhole’s demand comes just days after heated exchanges on the floor of the Senate over a controversial amendment to the Standing Orders, which introduced stricter eligibility requirements for those seeking principal offices.
Under the new rules passed on Tuesday, only senators with at least two consecutive and uninterrupted terms would qualify to contest for top leadership positions, including Senate President and other principal offices.
The amendment effectively prevents Mr Oshiomhole from contesting a presiding office in the 11th Senate.
Addressing newsmen on the saga, the former governor described the amended rules as being rooted in what he called a “moral crisis”.
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He also claimed that Akpabio, under the new framework being debated, no longer meets the moral and procedural threshold to continue presiding over the chamber.
He argued that since the Senate President has not completed eight years in office, he should lead by example by vacating his position.
He said: “This rule has a serious moral crisis. The Senate President became Minority Leader during his first term. He is now the one presiding and asking us to change those rules so even those who have done one term cannot contest.
“As we speak today, the Senate President has not done eight years in office, even if you count the previous term plus the current one. So, if we pass the rule that we must do eight consecutive years before you can become Senate President, it means he has to lead by example by vacating, because he is presiding without acquiring the necessary qualifications.”
Drawing parallels with past leadership arrangements, Oshiomhole referenced former Senate President David Mark, warning against changing rules for political convenience after benefiting from them.
“More offensive to me is that as leaders who are products of by-laws, we must not make laws to perpetuate anyone. David Mark had the honour and privilege of serving as Senate President for eight years, not by changing the rules.
“Those rules that enabled David Mark to preside for eight years—what happened to them? Why change them now because he fears that more senators will be eligible, which will broaden the competitive base? So, he wants to shrink it. If other people are afraid, I am not,” he added.
