Senate makes U-turn on 8-year eligibility for presidency contest

The Senate has made a U-turn on its Tuesday’s decision as it has rescinded a controversial amendment that barred first-time senators from contesting presiding offices, reopening the 2027 race for Senate President and Deputy Senate President.

On Tuesday, the Senate amended its Standing Orders after a marathon executive session with the introduction of stricter eligibility criteria for the emergence of presiding officers in the 11th Senate, effectively limiting the contest for Senate President and other top leadership offices to returning ranking lawmakers of the current Assembly.

With the amendment on Tuesday, Senate leadership positions will follow a hierarchy beginning with former Senate Presidents, former Deputy Senate Presidents, former Principal Officers, senators who have completed at least one full term, lawmakers transitioning from the House of Representatives, and finally, first-time senators where no higher-ranking candidates emerge.

The amendment also stipulates that only Senators returning from the current 10th Assembly after re-election can contest for Senate President and other key leadership offices.
The reversal was adopted on Thursday through a motion sponsored by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, APC, Ekiti Central and presided over by Deputy Senate President Jubril Barau.

On why the reversal matters, Bamidele said that with the rule gone, the leadership contest for the 11th National Assembly is now open to all elected senators regardless of tenure.

The backtrack also signals a shift within the ruling party towards a more competitive and inclusive process for selecting the next Senate leadership, rather than pre-determining it through tenure restrictions.

The motion is titled, Recession and Re-Committal of Order 2 (2) and Order 3(1) of the Senate Standing Orders, 2023, as amended.

Presenting the motion, Bamidele said, “the Senate recalls that the Senate Standing Orders were considered and amended on Tuesday, 5th May, 2026;

“Observes that upon further legislative and constitutional review, certain provisions introduced under Order 2(2) and Order 3(1) may give rise to constitutional inconsistencies and unintended tensions with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), particularly Section 52 thereof;

“Notes that it is necessary to ensure that the Standing Orders of the Senate remain fully consistent with constitutional provisions, established parliamentary conventions, and legislative practice;

“Further notes that the Senate possesses the inherent parliamentary authority to revisit, rescind, and recommit any matter previously decided upon in order to preserve the integrity of its proceedings and legislative framework;

“Accordingly resolves to: rescind its earlier decisions relating to the amendments made to Order 2(2) and Order 3(1) of the Senate Standing Orders, 2026.

“Rescission and Re-Committal of the National Identity Management Commission (Establishment) Bill, 2026 to the Committee of the Whole.

Details later…