Senate Amends Standing Order

The Senate has revised its standing procedures to prohibit newly elected Senators from contesting for the esteemed positions of Senate President and Deputy Senate President.

The order was revisited during Tuesday’s plenary following a motion moved by the Senate Leader Senator Opeyemi Bamidele.

With the new amendment of Rule 3(2) (1-3) 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 officer of the upper chamber.

Any senator wanting to run for the office of Senate President and Deputy Senate President must have served a minimum of one term in the Senate, according to Rule 3 of the Senate Standing Orders as amended.

The Senate’s action is presumed to be a reaction to the leadership dispute that occurred before the inauguration of legislators in the 10th Senate several months ago, wherein Senator Abdulaziz Yari, a freshman senator, vied against Senator Godswill Akpabio for the post of Senate President.

Additionally, the Senate modified its rules and added nine new Standing Committees. There are now 74 Standing Committees in the Senate.

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