The Senator representing Edo North Senatorial District, Adams Oshiomhole, has declared that Senate President Godswill Akpabio is not qualified to occupy the position under the current Senate Standing Order.
Oshiomhole made the remark on Tuesday during an appearance on Arise Television’s Morning Show, where he spoke on the controversy surrounding the amendment of the Senate rules and the qualification required to preside over the Red Chamber.
The former Edo State governor backed the position earlier canvassed by Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire, SAN, insisting that the debate over the Senate Standing Order was far from over.
According to him, the present provisions of the rules do not support Akpabio’s continued stay as Senate President because the Akwa Ibom lawmaker has not completed the required number of years in the Senate.
“The current Senate President served a 4-year term, lost his reelection bid, served as a minister, and returned this term to become Senate President again.
“If you add his first term to his current term, he still has not served 8 years. If 8 years is the minimum requirement, Sen. Akpabio does not qualify to preside because he has not met it.
“If he assumed the role in error, that error must be corrected. Also, the word “consecutively” effectively reduces the Senate President’s term to three years for ranking purposes.
“These kinds of laws are what breed dictatorship in Africa,” Oshiomhole said.
The senator argued that the interpretation of the Standing Order has created confusion within the Senate and warned that bending parliamentary rules to favour individuals could weaken democratic institutions.
Oshiomhole also maintained that lawmakers must respect constitutional principles and internal parliamentary regulations instead of adjusting them to suit political interests.
The comments have added fresh tension to the growing debate over the leadership structure of the 10th Senate and the interpretation of ranking rules guiding principal offices in the National Assembly.
