Senate makes U-turn on controversial leadership rule
The Senate has rescinded a controversial amendment that barred first-time senators from contesting presiding offices, reopening the 2027 race for Senate President and Deputy Senate President.
Rescinding its decision, the Senate noted that the amended Standing Orders were sequel to concerns that some provisions were inconsistent with the 1999 Constitution.
The reversal was adopted on Thursday through a motion sponsored by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, APC, Ekiti Central and presided over by Deputy Senate President Jubril Barau.
The motion is titled, Recession and Re-Committal of Order 2 (2) and Order 3(1) of the Senate Standing Orders, 2023, as amended.
The backtrack also signals a shift within the ruling party towards a more competitive and inclusive process for selecting the next Senate leadership, rather than pre-determining it through tenure restrictions.
Bamidele explained that legislative and constitutional reviews revealed possible conflicts with provisions of Nigeria’s Constitution, particularly Section 52, necessitating immediate parliamentary corrections could “give rise to constitutional inconsistencies and unintended tensions” with the Constitution.
According to him, the Senate retained authority to revisit, rescind, and recommit previously concluded matters to protect legislative integrity, parliamentary convention, and legislative practice.
The Senate subsequently rescinded its earlier decision regarding amendments to Orders 2(2) and 3(1) of the Senate standing orders and retained previous provisions.
On Tuesday, the Senate amended its Standing Orders after a marathon executive session with the introduction of stricter eligibility criteria for the emergence of presiding officers in the 11th Senate, effectively limiting the contest for Senate President and other top leadership offices to returning ranking lawmakers of the current Assembly.
With the amendment Senate leadership positions were to follow a hierarchy beginning with former Senate Presidents, former Deputy Senate Presidents, former Principal Officers, senators who have completed at least one full term, lawmakers transitioning from the House of Representatives, and finally first-time senators where no higher-ranking candidates emerge.
The amendment also stipulated that only Senators returning from the current 10th Assembly after re-election can contest for Senate President and other key leadership offices.
Presenting the motion, Bamidele said, “The Senate recalls that the Senate Standing Orders were considered and amended on Tuesday, 5th May, 2026;
“Observes that upon further legislative and constitutional review, certain provisions introduced under Order 2(2) and Order 3(1) may give rise to constitutional inconsistencies and unintended tensions with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), particularly Section 52 thereof;
“Notes that it is necessary to ensure that the Standing Orders of the Senate remain fully consistent with constitutional provisions, established parliamentary conventions, and legislative practice;
“Further notes that the Senate possesses the inherent parliamentary authority to revisit, rescind, and recommit any matter previously decided upon in order to preserve the integrity of its proceedings and legislative framework;
“Accordingly resolves to: rescind its earlier decisions relating to the amendments made to Order 2(2) and Order 3(1) of the Senate Standing Orders, 2026.
In his presentation of the motion, Bamidele who cited constitutional provisions to justify the motion, particularly Section 52(1) of the Constitution regarding declaration of assets and participation in the election of presiding officers, said that the Constitution provides that every senator or member of the House of Representatives shall, before taking a seat, declare assets and liabilities and subsequently take the oath of allegiance and oath of membership.
According to the Senate leader, Constitution also clearly states that: “A member may, before taking the oath, take part in the election of the President and the Deputy President of the Senate, or the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.”
Bamidele who noted that the constitutional provision made it clear that the election of presiding officers must take place before senators are sworn in, said: “Against this background, Mr. President and distinguished colleagues, I move that the Senate rescinds its earlier decisions relating to the amendments made to Order 2, Subsection 2, and Order 3, Subsection 1 of the Senate Standing Orders 2026.”
According to him, the Senate possesses the inherent parliamentary authority to revisit and rescind previous decisions in order to preserve the integrity of its proceedings and legislative framework.
On why the reversal matters, Bamidele said that with the rule gone, the leadership contest for the 11th National Assembly is now open to all elected senators regardless of tenure.
In his remarks, the Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin who presided over plenary described the motion as “straightforward” and commended the Senate Leader for quickly identifying the constitutional inconsistency.
Barau said: “This is a very straightforward motion. It is just for us to go in conformity with the Constitution. I thank the Leader for being observant and up to the game as Leader of the Senate by making this observation.”
The Deputy Senate President explained that there was no need for extensive debate and subsequently put the motion to a voice vote, which was overwhelmingly adopted by senators.
Immediately, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, APC, Edo North raised a point of order and asked bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbthe Senate leadership to allow broader debate on sensitive legislative matters.
Oshiomhole said: “I believe the average age in this Senate is over 40, and so we don’t have excuse for youthful exuberance. When we are making a law, we should accommodate diverse views. That way, what one person forgot, the other person will remember.”
The former Edo state governor who warned that future amendments should allow for wider participation to avoid errors and unnecessary controversy, said, “The only point I want to make is that next time we should allow debate. I just felt I needed to raise this point of order.”
Immediately after Oshiomhole, the Senate Leader who took a swipe at what he described as the “drama” that accompanied proceedings on the amendments a day earlier, warning that such conduct was damaging the image of the Senate, said: “Regardless of what was done in this hallowed chamber yesterday, what became the news out of this chamber was unnecessary drama. We are not going to allow this to continue.
“If Senator Adams Oshiomhole had any problem with the decision taken two days ago, what he was expected to do was to bring a substantive motion for debate on the floor of the Senate.
“We cannot allow this kind of drama to go on in the Senate. We must put a stop to it.
“This drama must stop because it is not helping the image of this institution. This is the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Before sustaining the point of order moved by the Senate Leader, Barau said: “It is against our rules for you to raise this issue because this matter has already been dealt with, but I used my discretion to allow you speak.
“If you have any problem, you can come through a substantive motion.”
