In a recent interview from 1:28 shared by Arise News, Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thought, Sam Amadi, raised concerns over the ongoing controversy surrounding the amendment of the Senate Standing Rules.
Speaking during the programme, Amadi argued that lawmakers must be careful not to introduce rules that could undermine constitutional principles or restrict democratic participation within the National Assembly. According to him, the Senate has the authority to regulate its internal procedures, but such powers should not conflict with the constitutional rights of elected lawmakers.
Commenting on the debate over eligibility requirements for Senate leadership positions, Amadi maintained that every senator, regardless of status or experience, should have the right to participate in electing principal officers of the chamber.
He stated, “It will be unconstitutional to constrain or deprive new senators from participating in choosing their leaders.”
Amadi explained that the Constitution gives senators the right to elect their leaders during the earliest proceedings of the Senate, making it difficult to justify rules that may limit participation based on seniority or political calculations.
He further warned against using legislative procedures to target individuals, stressing that parliamentary rules should promote fairness, inclusiveness, and democratic integrity rather than serve narrow political interests within the National Assembly…Read_More…