Senate Alters Rules, Bars Fresh Senators From Contesting As Presiding Officers

The Senate has amended its standing orders to stop first-term Senators from vying for the position of Senate President and Deputy Senate President.

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

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

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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.

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This action by the Senate is likely in response to the leadership tussle before the swearing-in of lawmakers in the 10th Senate a few months ago when Senator Abdulaziz Yari, a first-term Senator contested against Senator Godswill Akpabio for the position of Senate President.

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The Senate also amended its rules and created an additional nine Standing Committees. The Senate presently has 74 Standing Committees. (Channels)