The Senate on Tuesday amended its standing orders to prevent senators elected into the upper chamber for the first time to contest for the positions of senate president and deputy senate president.
The amended rule stipulates that any senator contesting for the position of the senate president and deputy senate president must have spent a minimum of one term of four years in the senate.
The amendment of 3 Section 2 and Sub-section 1,2 and 3 followed a motion moved by the Senate leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, titled, “Amendment of the Standing Orders of the Senate pursuant to Order 109 of the Senate Standing Orders, 2022.”
Recall that in the 13 June contest for the position of senate president, a first-time member and former governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari, contested against Mr Akpabio. Mr Yari was, however, a member of the House of Representatives before becoming governor.
The Senate rule book states that nomination for presiding officers shall be in accordance with the ranking of senators.
Bamidele in his motion stated that the Senate Standing Rule was amended on Saturday, August 5, 2023, to create new Committees and other sundry Amendments.
He said, “There are a number of issues that require further Amendments to provide for the creation of additional Committees of the Senate in response to emerging developments that will enhance rules of procedure for sound legislative practice.
“These developments have made it imperative to further amend the Standing Orders of the Senal 2022 (as amended) occasioned by the creation of additional Senate Standing Committees and to have the functions and jurisdictions reflected in the Standing Orders of the Senate.
“The amendments have been circulated to Senators in accordance with Order 109 Rule 2 the Senate Standing Orders.”
“Senator Bamidele further urged the Senate to “restrain first-time lawmakers from contesting for any of the presiding officers; Senate President and Deputy Senate President.”
The lawmakers then unanimously agreed to amend their rule to accommodate the prayers as moved by the Senate leader.
