The Senate, on Tuesday, revised its regulations, introducing a restriction that prevents first-term senators from competing for the Senate President and Deputy Senate President positions.
The amendment to Section 2(1)(2) and (3) followed a motion by the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, titled, ‘Amendment to the Standing Orders of the Senate Pursuant to Order 109 of the Senate Standing Orders, 2022.’
The Senate’s decision to amend the rules comes in the wake of rumours surrounding purported moves by northern legislators to unseat Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Senator Abdulaziz Yari, a former governor of Zamfara State who was serving as a senator for the first time, ran for the Senate President position. However, he was defeated as Akpabio, the favoured candidate of President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress, secured the role.
Many believe that the amendment has been crafted to specifically address high-profile first-time senators in the Senate, with Senator Yari being a notable example.
Read also: ₦100B CNG Buses: Senate Warns Tinubu Against Illegal Spending
Bamidele, during his presentation, detailed that the Senate Standing Rule had been altered to facilitate the formation of fresh committees.
He said, ‘There are a number of issues that require further amendments to provide for the creation of additional committees of the Senate in response to emerging developments that will enhance rules of procedure for sound legislative practice.’
‘These developments have made it imperative to further amend the Standing Orders of the Senate 2022 (as amended), occasioned by the creation of additional Senate Standing Committees and to have the functions and jurisdictions reflected in the Standing Orders of the Senate.’
‘The amendments have been circulated to senators in accordance with Order 109 Rule 2 the Senate Standing Orders.’
He urged the Senate to ‘restrain first-time lawmakers from contesting for any of the presiding officers; Senate President and Deputy Senate President.’
The lawmakers then proceeded to collectively endorse a rule amendment that would include the requests made by the Senate Leader.
The Senate, in another move, amended its rules to facilitate the creation of nine more standing committees, resulting in a total of 83 committees.