Oshiomhole Questions Akpabio’s Eligibility To Remain Senate President Under Amended Senate Rules

Abuja, Nigeria– Former Edo State governor and Senator representing Edo North Senatorial District, Adams Oshiomhole, has questioned the eligibility of Senate President Godswill Akpabio to preside over the Nigerian Senate under the recently amended Senate Standing Order, arguing that the current Senate President may not meet the minimum qualification requirement if the rules are strictly interpreted.

Oshiomhole made the remarks during an interview on Arise Television while backing concerns earlier raised by Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire, SAN, over the controversial amendment to the Senate Standing Order concerning ranking status and eligibility for principal offices in the upper legislative chamber.

The former president of the Nigeria Labour Congress said the issue surrounding the amendment was far from over, insisting that the current interpretation of the rules could also affect Akpabio himself.

According to Oshiomhole, “Yeah, what SAN Adegbonmire said is correct, and that is why I said the fight is not over. Because even the current Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, did four years. Subsequently, he lost election to the Senate, and he became a minister.

“Now, he came back this term, and he became Senate President. If you add the first term plus the current one, he would not have done eight years. Indeed, he’s probably doing the four, five, six, maybe he’s approaching several years now.

“So if eight years is a minimum requirement, he doesn’t have the right to preside because he has not acquired the qualification. If he got it in error, it has to be corrected. So that is why you don’t make laws with people in mind.”

Oshiomhole further argued that the use of the word “consecutively” in the amended Senate rules creates additional complications that could invalidate Akpabio’s ranking status.

“Number two, there is another thing that Adegbonmire did not amplify, and that is the word consecutively,” he said.

“If you say consecutively, it means the first tenure of distinguished Senate President Akpabio in the eighth Senate will not count because he was not in the ninth Senate, and therefore is not consecutive.

“Strictly speaking, by the interpretation of the rules that have been made, he has only done — he’s approaching three years as a Senator for the purpose of ranking.”

The lawmaker, however, maintained that he was not opposed to any senator aspiring to become Senate President, provided such a person enjoys the support and confidence of fellow lawmakers.

“I hold the view that this is just, for me, is not adding value to the process. Not to stop any Senator from being Senate President for as long as first his people elect him or re-elect him, and his colleagues accept him. There is no shortcut to it,” he said.

Drawing comparisons with former Senate President David Mark, Oshiomhole said leadership in the Senate should be based on trust and acceptance among lawmakers rather than technical rule amendments targeted at specific individuals.

“That is why I gave an example of distinguished Senator David Mark. He held that office for eight years, and all he needed to do to hold the office for eight years was to earn and sustain and service the trust line between the Senate Presidency and the distinguished Senators.

“Often times, you will hear David Mark saying, ‘The Senators are my bosses because they elect me,’ because the only right you have is what your constituency confers on you, namely to be a Senator.

“To be a Senate President, you are first among equals.”

Oshiomhole warned that allowing individuals in leadership positions to manipulate institutional rules for personal or political advantage could create dangerous precedents capable of undermining democracy.

“And you know where we turn our back and allow small, small things to happen? That is how Africans produce dictators that become bigger than their own country. That was just my point, nothing personal about it,” he added.

The senator also cited examples of other politicians who could be negatively affected by the amendment, including former Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege and former Delta State governor Ifeanyi Okowa.

“I mean, for example, I know that what has informed that rule is the most publicized fact that there are a couple of former Senators, like in Delta State. Perhaps the most compelling case, obvious case, would be that of Senator Omo-Agege, who was a Deputy Senate President.

“Now he comes back to the eleventh assembly, assuming he wins, and then you say he’s no more ranking because it is not consecutively.

“Or Senator Okowa, who was a Senator before going to become Governor. Exactly the same way as distinguished President Akpabio was a Senator, and then he lost an election, he became a Minister, and then came back to contest and become Senator again.

“And he was considered as ranking. Now this amendment says that once it is not consecutive, you are not ranking. You cannot even be — not just Senate President — you cannot even be a Principal Officer. How fair is that?”

Oshiomhole stressed that lawmakers should avoid making laws targeted at either helping themselves politically or preventing perceived rivals from emerging in future political contests.

“Quite a number — nobody knows who’s going to win the next election,” he said.

“I’m just saying that, as a matter of morality, you don’t make law either for yourself or make law against specific individuals that you fear will come. That is the road to life presidency and dictatorship.

“That’s why our neighbors can elect a 93-year-old man in Cameroon, and a 97-year-old man.

“That for me, those are the issues, nothing personal. Akpabio was my friend. But anybody who knows me knows that my friendship is important.

“But the country is much more important than my personal relationship with anyone.”