By Olugbenga Salami
The Senate on Thursday rescinded its recent amendments to Orders 2(2) and 3(1) of the Senate Standing Orders 2023, reverting to the previous provisions after lawmakers flagged possible constitutional conflicts.
The earlier amendments had restricted principal leadership position to senators serving at least a second term and limited eligibility to members of the 10th Senate re‑elected in 2027.
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele (Ekiti Central), who moved the motion for rescission and recommittal during plenary, with Minority Leader Abba Moro, (Benue South) seconding it, said a further review revealed the amendments could conflict with Section 52 of the Constitution, requiring immediate correction.
Bamidele noted that the Senate retains the power to revisit and reverse earlier decisions to uphold legislative integrity and parliamentary convention.
The controversial revision would have allowed senators‑elect to be sworn in before the election of principal officers. Under the existing arrangement, the Clerk to the National Assembly presides over the election of the Senate President and Deputy Senate President before the new Senate President administers the oath to other senators‑elect.
The Senate, however, retained a separate amendment that restricts the offices of Senate President and other principal officers to members of the 10th Senate.
The provision had sparked tension in the chamber on Tuesday, particularly during a heated exchange between Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senator Adams Oshiomhole (Edo North).
The resolution stated that “further legislative and constitutional review” showed the amendments could create inconsistencies with Section 52 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
“It is necessary to ensure that the Standing Orders of the Senate remain fully consistent with constitutional provisions, established parliamentary conventions, and legislative practice,” it added.
The resolution also reaffirmed the Senate’s authority to revisit and rescind any matter previously decided to preserve the integrity of its proceedings.
Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, who presided, described the motion as straightforward and necessary for constitutional compliance.
Oshiomhole criticised the manner in which the initial amendments were passed, urging colleagues to allow proper debate before taking critical decisions. He blamed the controversy on the hurried process on Tuesday.
His remarks drew a sharp response from Bamidele, who raised a point of order under Rule 52(6), saying any senator with concerns about a concluded decision should bring a substantive rescission motion for debate rather than create unnecessary drama on the floor.
“We were all in the chamber and witnessed the kind of drama that went on even though it was totally unnecessary. But the unfortunate thing about that drama was that regardless of what was done in this hallowed chamber yesterday (Wednesday), what became the news was that unnecessary drama. We are not going to allow this to continue,” Bamidele said.
He added that as the Senate Leader, he had also identified issues with the amendment and had planned to move the rescission motion at the leadership level.
The presiding officer subsequently sustained Bamidele’s point of order.
