Senator representing Edo Central, , has criticized recent moves to alter the Senate’s ranking structure, alleging that Senate President personally benefited from the same rules he now appears willing to amend.
Speaking during an interview with AIT News, Oshiomhole questioned the moral basis for any proposed amendment that could restrict newly elected lawmakers from occupying top leadership positions in the Senate. According to him, Akpabio himself rose rapidly through the ranks immediately after entering the upper legislative chamber.
Oshiomhole stated, “Now let me say why this has serious moral failings. The Senate President became minority leader on his first day in office and in his first term when he got into the Senate. He became a principal officer, minority leader. He is not the one who presided. And now he is asking us to change those rules such that even somebody who came through the court, you can’t even be number two.”
The former Edo State governor argued that Akpabio’s current position contradicts the principles behind the proposed changes. He emphasized that the Senate President has not yet completed a total of eight years in the Senate, even when both his previous and current tenures are combined.
According to Oshiomhole, introducing a rule that requires senators to spend at least eight consecutive years in the chamber before becoming Senate President would automatically disqualify Akpabio from occupying the office he currently holds. He maintained that such a policy would create an inconsistency, as the same standard was not applied when Akpabio emerged as a principal officer during his first term.
The remarks have added to the growing debate surrounding leadership qualification criteria within the Nigerian Senate. Political observers believe the disagreement reflects wider concerns over fairness, internal democracy, and the balance of power within the National Assembly….See More
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