By Rejoice Peterside
The Senate’s attempt to amend the 2023 Standing Orders, widely seen as a move to influence the 2027 leadership contest, collapsed on Tuesday after strong opposition from lawmakers and a decisive intervention by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The motion titled “Amendment of the Standing Orders of the Senate 2023 to Accommodate New Committees and Enhance Legislative Practice,” moved by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele and presented by his deputy, Lola Ashiru, was introduced as a routine update.
However, it contained provisions many lawmakers interpreted as a calculated effort to shape the emergence of the next Senate President and Deputy Senate President.
The proposal sought to allow Senators-elect to vote for presiding officers before being sworn in, limit eligibility for top positions to senators who had completed at least one full term, and introduce a ranking system that placed former presiding officers and returning senators ahead of first-term lawmakers.
These elements quickly raised concerns among senators who feared the amendments could tilt the balance in favour of certain political blocs.
Senator Danjuma Goje openly opposed the clauses on eligibility and ranking, warning that they could destabilise the chamber. Minority Leader Abba Moro intensified the resistance when he raised a point of order citing Order 109 of the Senate Rule Book, arguing that the amendment did not follow due process as it had neither been properly submitted nor printed and circulated before debate.
Responding to the rising tension, Akpabio intervened and acknowledged that the controversial clauses created confusion and could unfairly influence future leadership outcomes. He upheld Moro’s point of order and suspended debate on the motion, effectively halting its progress and marking a significant setback for its promoters.
The development revived memories of the 2023 amendment that barred first-term senators from contesting presiding officer positions, a rule that prevented Senator Abdulaziz Yari from challenging Akpabio for the Senate Presidency at the inauguration of the Tenth Senate.
In a separate resolution, the Senate called on the Federal Government to intensify efforts to rescue 25 abducted students, increase military personnel deployment in vulnerable communities, and investigate the management of the Safe School Initiative Fund, expressing concern that repeated attacks on schools highlight serious gaps in securing learning environments.
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