Senator Adams Oshiomhole has criticised a proposed amendment to Senate rules concerning eligibility for the position of Senate President, arguing that the move raises moral and constitutional concerns.
Oshiomhole made the remarks in comments aired by AIT News from 2:07 on Thursday, May 7, 2026, while reacting to discussions surrounding a proposed rule requiring senators to complete eight consecutive years in office before becoming eligible for the Senate presidency.
In his remarks, the former Edo State governor referenced the political rise of the current Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, arguing that Akpabio himself became a principal officer shortly after entering the Senate.
“Now, let me say why this rule has serious moral crisis. The senate president became minority leader on his fourth day in office. On his fourth day, on his fourth term, when he got into the senate, I think in the ninth or eighth senate, right? He became a principal officer, minority leader,” Oshiomhole said.
The senator questioned the rationale behind introducing a stricter eligibility condition after Akpabio had already emerged under the existing rules. “He’s not the one presiding and asking us to change this rule such that even somebody who I don’t want them, you can’t even be,” he stated.
Oshiomhole further argued that if the proposed rule requiring eight consecutive years in the Senate were to be adopted, it would also affect the current Senate President. “Number two, as we speak today, the senate president has not done eight years in office. Even if you count the previous one plus the current one, it’s not yet up to eight years,” he said.
“So if we pass the rules that you must do eight consecutive years before you can be senate president, it means he has to lead by example by vacating. Because he’s presiding without acquiring the appropriate qualification,” Oshiomhole added.
The senator also criticised what he described as attempts to alter established Senate procedures for political advantage. “But more offensive to me is that as leaders who are product of bylaws, we mustn’t make laws to perpetrate anyone,” he stated.
Referring to former Senate President David Mark, Oshiomhole said the former lawmaker served eight years without changes to Senate rules being introduced to secure his position. “David Mark had the honor and privilege of serving as senate president for eight years, not by playing with the rules. Those rules that enabled David Mark to preside for eight years, what is wrong with them?” he asked.
He also questioned the timing of the proposed amendment, suggesting that it was linked to future political calculations within the Senate. “Those rules that enable this senate president to contest for senate presidency, what is wrong with them? Why changing it now?” he said.
According to Oshiomhole, broader eligibility could increase competition for the position in future Senate leadership contests. “Because last time, this rule of what term, ranking, that’s what you require. And he turned out to be the only one from the south-south where it was zoned to. So now you hear that more senators will be eligible, which will broaden the competition base. And now he wants to shock it,” he stated.
The senator maintained that he was not intimidated by political consequences for speaking out against the proposal. “If other people are afraid, I’m not afraid. I’m only afraid of my creator. Because I’ve seen whether you tell the lie, you tell the truth, the date of death, you can’t adjust it either forward or backward,” Oshiomhole said…Read_More…