Oshiomhole Akpabio Senate leadership dispute intensifies as the senator challenges proposed rule changes limiting eligibility for principal offices
Edo North Senator Adams Oshiomhole has called on Senate President Godswill Akpabio to “lead by example” by stepping aside from his position as the presiding officer of the National Assembly amid a heated debate over proposed changes to Senate rules.
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Oshiomhole and Akpabio Senate leadership clash stems from a controversial move to amend the Senate Standing Rules, which seeks to restrict newcomers from becoming principal officers in the upper chamber.
Oshiomhole, while speaking to journalists, questioned the moral justification behind the proposal and argued that it could undermine democratic principles within the legislature.
He noted that Akpabio had not spent up to eight years in the Senate, arguing that under a stricter interpretation of the proposed rule, the Senate President himself would be ineligible to hold his current position.
“The Senate President became Minority Leader in his first term when he got into the office in the 8th Senate; he became a principal officer. He’s now the one presiding and asking us to change those rules,” Oshiomhole said.
He further questioned the fairness of limiting leadership opportunities, suggesting that such a move could entrench political privilege rather than promote merit.
“If we pass the rules that you must do eight consecutive years before you can be Senate President, it means he has to lead by example by vacating because he is presiding without the appropriate qualification,” he added.
Oshiomhole also stressed that legislative rules should not be designed to favour or entrench individuals in power, warning against what he described as attempts to personalise leadership positions.
He insisted that democracy allows accountability and openness, urging Nigerians to scrutinise lawmakers supporting the proposed amendment.
“The beauty of democracy is why that Section 70 is inserted into the constitution,” he said, calling for transparency in legislative decision-making.
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Oshiomhole vs Akpabio Senate leadership tension adds to growing political tension within the National Assembly as debates over internal reforms continue.
