Why Senate Amended Its Rules,  Barred Fresh Lawmakers From Contesting As Presiding Officers

The Senate may have  amended its standing orders to stop first-term Senators from vying for the position of Senate President and Deputy Senate President in a  bid to preempt a repeat of the acrimony generated prior to the inauguration of the 10th Senate.

Senator Abdulaziz Yari, a first-term Senator had insisted on  contesting  against Senator Godswill Akpabio for the position of Senate President even when it was apparent that President Bola Tinubu was favourably disposed to Akpabio becoming the Senate President.

All entreaties to prevail on him and his supporters  to voluntarily step down for Akpabio failed.

The Senate amended its order during Tuesday’s legislative proceedings.

Apart from amending its rules, it created an additional nine Standing Committees. The Senate presently has 74 Standing Committees.

The amendment of Rule 3(2) (1-3) of the Senate Standing Orders follows a motion moved by the Senate Leader Senator Opeyemi Bamidele.

With the new amendment to the standing orders of the Senate, first-term senators are now excluded from those qualified or eligible to contest for the position of presiding officers of the upper chamber.

Rule 3 of the Senate Standing Orders as amended now stipulates that any senator wishing to contest for the position of the Senate President and Deputy Senate President must have spent a minimum of one term in the Senate.