The Senate leadership pushed through a change to its standing rules on Tuesday in what appears to be a preventative measure against destabilization.
Only ranking senators are eligible to run for and be elected to the positions of Senate President and Deputy President under the modified rule.
Two weeks ago, the 10th Senate experienced what many consider to be an impeachment attempt against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Following the adoption of a resolution proposed by Opeyemi Bamidele, the majority leader of the Senate, by the senators present at the day’s session, the amendment was approved.
As a result, an addition was made to Section 3 of the Senate Standing Orders, which states that a senator must have served one term or four years as a senator before running for president of the Senate or deputy president of the Senate.
First-term senators are no longer eligible to run for the two highest positions of presiding officers of the Red Chambers as a result of the modification.
The motion was titled: “Amendment of the Senate Standing Rules pursuant to Order 109 of the Senate Standing Orders, 2022 (As Amended).”
Any senator intending to run for the office of Senate President and Deputy Senate President must have served a minimum of one term in the senate, according to Rule 3 of the Senate Standing Orders as amended.
The 1999 constitution (as modified), under section 50(1), stated merely that “there shall be a President and a Deputy President of the Senate, who shall be elected by the members of that House from among themselves.” Opponents of the amended norm, however, claim that this is in violation of this provision.
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