The Nigerian Senate has reversed its controversial amendment to the Standing Orders, a decision expected to reopen the race for key leadership positions in the 11th National Assembly.
The earlier amendment had restricted eligibility for principal offices to ranking senators, thereby excluding first-time lawmakers from contesting positions such as Senate President and other top leadership seats.
The reversal followed a motion moved by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele and adopted during plenary presided over by Deputy Senate President Jubril Barau.
Under the now-reversed provision, only senators who had completed two terms — including one immediately preceding nomination — were eligible to contest for principal offices.
With the latest decision, senators previously disqualified from contesting the Senate presidency and other leadership positions have now regained eligibility.
The development comes amid rising tensions between Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senator Adams Oshiomhole over the interpretation of the amended Standing Rules.
The disagreement reportedly erupted after Akpabio began reading the Votes and Proceedings during Tuesday’s plenary when Oshiomhole raised a point of order.
Akpabio, however, ruled him out of order, citing the 2023 Standing Rules which prohibit senators from raising points of order during that stage of proceedings.
