The Senate has amended its rules to require at least two consecutive terms for eligibility to presiding offices, tightening criteria ahead of potential 2027 leadership contests.
The Senate on Tuesday amended its standing rules to restrict eligibility for presiding and principal offices to lawmakers who have served at least two consecutive terms. The amendment was adopted through a voice vote presided over by Senate President Godswill Akpabio following a closed-door session that lasted about three hours. The move comes amid speculation that former senators, including Hope Uzodimma, Ifeanyi Okowa and Ovie Omo-Agege, may be considering a return to the upper chamber ahead of the 2027 elections.
Under the revised rules, only senators with a minimum of eight years of continuous service are eligible to contest for the positions of senate president and deputy senate president. The amendment also affected Orders 4 and 5, narrowing the criteria for leadership selection in the 11th National Assembly and reinforcing the principle of ranking in determining eligibility for key positions.
Order 4 now stipulates that nominations for presiding offices must strictly follow ranking, which includes former senate presidents, former deputy senate presidents, former principal officers, senators who have served at least one term, former members of the House of Representatives, and first-time senators where others are unavailable. The changes are expected to shape future leadership contests in the Senate by limiting access to top positions to more experienced lawmakers.
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