ABUJA: An attempt to amend the 2023 Standing Orders of the Senate a move widely interpreted as an effort to smooth the return of current presiding officers in the next Assembly was stalled on Tuesday following strong objections and procedural challenges from lawmakers.
The proposal, sponsored by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele and presented on his behalf by Senator Lola Ashiru, sought to update critical sections of the standing orders.
Ashiru argued that the changes were necessary to accommodate emerging national realities, new commissions, and evolving governance demands.
However, three proposed amendments immediately triggered controversy across the chamber:
The amendment sought to permit incoming lawmakers to elect the Senate President and Deputy Senate President before being sworn in, contrary to the current requirement under the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution.
Only senators who have completed at least one four-year term would be eligible to contest for the positions of Senate President or Deputy Senate President.
A revised hierarchy would give priority to former presiding officers and long-serving senators.
First-term lawmakers would only be eligible to contest leadership positions if there were no ranking members available.
The proposals drew immediate pushback. Former Gombe State Governor, Senator Danjuma Goje, objected outright, calling for the complete removal of the three contentious provisions.
Minority Leader Abba Moro raised a point of order under Order 109, reminding the chamber that any amendment to the standing orders must be formally submitted, printed, circulated for at least seven days, and listed on the Order Paper before debate can proceed.
“Have we honoured this rule? Otherwise, we should tarry a little and follow due process, Moro warned.
The observation caused the chamber to grow tense, with murmurs and gesticulations among senators.
Responding, Senate President Godswill Akpabio expressed concerns specifically about the proposed ranking clause, noting that it could predetermine leadership outcomes.
“Number four means nobody will be Senate President if someone newly elected is the party’s candidate, Akpabio said.
Senator Yau, with number four, you automatically become Senate President because you are a landlord here.
Akpabio upheld Moro’s point of order, stating that continuing the debate without complying with procedure would render the exercise “an exercise in futility.”
Following the Senate President’s ruling, deliberations on the amendment were suspended and deferred to a later legislative date.
