Senate Amends Standing Rules to Bar New Senators from Top Posts — Oshiomhole Challenges Akpabio

The Nigerian Senate has voted to amend its Standing Rules in a way that bars senators who did not serve in the current 10th Assembly from contesting for presiding officer positions in the incoming 11th Assembly. The move immediately sparked a public clash between former APC National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole and Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

What the Amendment Does

Under the amended Standing Orders, only senators who served in the 10th National Assembly will be eligible to contest for the offices of Senate President and Deputy Senate President in 2027. That effectively shuts out former governors, ex-ministers, and new entrants hoping to walk straight into the Senate’s top seat.

The amendment is widely seen as targeting specific ambitions — notably those of Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, who has been linked to senate presidency aspirations, and other high-profile figures who might seek to enter the Senate and immediately contest for leadership.

Oshiomhole vs Akpabio

The amendment did not go unchallenged. Adams Oshiomhole publicly questioned the legitimacy of the rule change, putting him on a collision course with Senate President Akpabio, who presided over the session that approved it.

Oshiomhole’s challenge adds a layer of complexity to an already tense political environment within the APC, where different factions are jockeying for position ahead of 2027. His intervention signals that this fight over senate leadership is far from settled — it has only moved from the chamber floor to the court of public opinion.

The Bigger Picture

Senate rules have always been a political instrument in Nigeria. The timing of this amendment, coming as the APC finalises its primaries framework and 2027 candidates begin positioning, makes it impossible to read as a neutral administrative exercise. Someone’s path to the senate presidency was just narrowed — and whoever it was clearly has allies willing to fight back.

Sources: Premium Times, Vanguard, The Sun, The Nation