The Senate has reversed parts of its Standing Orders that previously restricted participation in the election of presiding officers to senators who had already taken the Oath of Office and Allegiance.
The move effectively broadens eligibility within the National Assembly and could open the contest for Senate President in 2027 to fresh contenders.
The decision followed a motion sponsored by the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, who explained that amendments introduced two days earlier to Section 2, Subsection 2, and Section 3, Subsection 1, might, after further legislative and constitutional scrutiny, create constitutional inconsistencies and unintended tensions.
Following the reversal, all duly elected senators can now take part in the election of presiding officers without first taking the Oath of Office and Allegiance.
The Deputy Senate President, Senator Jibrin Barau, presided over the plenary where lawmakers adopted the resolution.
Before the reversal, the Senate had amended its rules to state that only senators-elect who had taken the oath outlined in the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution could participate in Senate proceedings, including voting in the election of the Senate President and Deputy Senate President.
The development caused mild tension in the chamber after Senator Adams Oshiomhole raised a point of order to clarify his earlier position — which had sparked a disagreement with the Senate President on Wednesday — that lawmakers should not be stopped from expressing their opinions on matters before the Senate.
However, the Deputy Senate President ruled him out of order, noting that the matter had already been settled.
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele also referred to the Senate rules and maintained that lawmakers should present any further concerns before the chamber through a substantive motion.
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Bamidele further urged Oshiomhole to stop what he described as “drama” on the Senate floor, referring to the exchanges that took place during the previous day’s proceedings.