Senator Oshiomhole Demands Akpabio’s Resignation Over Senate Rule Controversy

The Senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, has called for the resignation of Senate President Godswill Akpabio amid controversy surrounding the recent amendment of the Senate Standing Orders regulating the election of presiding and principal officers in the upper chamber.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja, Oshiomhole described the proposed amendment as a “moral crisis,” arguing that Akpabio no longer meets the moral and procedural requirements to continue leading the Senate under the new framework being considered.

“This rule has serious moral crisis,” Oshiomhole said.

“The Senate President became Minority Leader during his first term. He is now presiding and asking us to change those rules so that even those who have done one term cannot contest.

“As we speak today, the Senate President has not completed eight years in office, even if you combine his previous and current tenures.

“So if we pass the rule that senators must serve eight consecutive years before becoming Senate President, then he should lead by example and vacate the position because he is presiding without the necessary qualifications.”

The Nigerian Senate, however, later withdrew the controversial amendment to the Senate Standing Orders.

The reversal followed a motion sponsored by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele and adopted under the supervision of Deputy Senate President Jubril Barau.

Under the previous rules, only senators who had served two terms were eligible to contest for principal offices, with one of the terms required to be the immediate term preceding nomination, a condition that significantly limited the number of eligible contenders.