Senate tightens leadership rules, limits eligibility to two-term lawmakers

THE Senate has revised its standing orders, introducing stricter eligibility criteria that limit presiding and principal offices to lawmakers who have completed at least two consecutive terms.

The amendment was approved on Tuesday through a voice vote overseen by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, following deliberations by the upper chamber.

The move comes against the backdrop of growing speculation that former senators such as Hope Uzodimma, Ifeanyi Okowa and Ovie Omo-Agege may be weighing a return to the Senate ahead of the 2027 elections, including possible bids for the top legislative seat.

Under the new rules, only senators with a minimum of 8 uninterrupted years in the chamber can contest for the offices of Senate president and deputy Senate president.

The changes followed a closed-door session that lasted nearly 3 hours, after which the Senate proceeded to amend Orders 4 and 5 to further narrow the pool of eligible candidates within the 11th national assembly.

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Order 4 now mandates that nominations for presiding offices must strictly adhere to ranking. This ranking hierarchy includes former Senate presidents, former deputy Senate presidents, ex-principal officers, serving senators with at least one term, former members of the House of Representatives, and, where necessary, first-time lawmakers.

Order 5 introduces an additional layer, stating that only senators who have served two consecutive terms immediately before nomination can vie for principal offices.

The amendment effectively shuts out incoming lawmakers who did not serve in both the 9th and 10th senates from contesting key leadership roles.

Presiding offices affected by the changes include the Senate president and deputy Senate president, while principal offices cover positions such as Senate leader, deputy Senate leader, chief whip, deputy chief whip, minority leader, deputy minority leader, minority whip and deputy minority whip.

The development is expected to shape the contest for Senate leadership in 2027.

During the session, Adams Oshiomhole emerged as the sole dissenting voice, opposing the adoption of the amendments. His attempt to raise a point of order was repeatedly declined by Akpabio.

“This was not what we agreed at the closed-door session,” Oshiomhole protested as the resolutions were read.

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Before the revision, any ranking senator, defined as one who had served at least a single four-year term, was eligible to contest for presiding offices.

Beyond leadership eligibility, the Senate also introduced broader procedural changes to its rules.

Order 8(1) was updated to fix committee meetings between 3 pm and 6 pm from Monday to Friday, except on the 2nd and 4th Fridays of each month.

Order 8(2) now provides that plenary sessions will hold on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 11 am to 3 pm, unless extended by the Senate leader.

Section 55(11) was amended to permit presiding officers and nominees undergoing screening to drink water during plenary sessions.

Section 66(8) now requires suspended lawmakers to exit the chamber as directed by the Senate president, with the duration of such suspension to be determined by resolution.

Section 94(1) sets committee membership between 7 and 25 senators, while also limiting lawmakers to participation in no more than 7 committees, with representation reflecting the 6 geopolitical zones.

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Section 96 was revised to expand committee oversight to include regional development commissions across the geopolitical zones.

The Senate also approved the creation of a new committee on reparation and repatriation.

Following the amendments, Akpabio directed the clerk of the Senate, Emmanuel Odo, to update the standing rules accordingly.