The Senate has rescinded a controversial clause in its standing orders that required senators-elect to participate in the election of presiding officers only after taking their oath of office.
The motion for rescission was sponsored by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, who said the amendment introduced under Orders 2(2) and 3(1) could create constitutional inconsistencies with Section 52 of the 1999 Constitution.
The upper chamber explained that the reversal became necessary to align its rules with constitutional provisions, parliamentary traditions and established legislative practice.
The now-reversed amendment had changed the long-standing procedure by making oath-taking a mandatory condition before newly elected senators could vote in the election of the Senate President and Deputy Senate President.
With the latest decision, the Senate has returned to the previous practice where senators-elect can first elect presiding officers before taking their oath of allegiance and membership.
During plenary, Senator Adams Oshiomhole reacted to the reversal, insisting future amendments should be properly debated before adoption.
“This shows that when there are amendments, the next time, we should allow debate,” the Edo North senator said.
Oshiomhole had earlier clashed with Senate President Godswill Akpabio over the amendments adopted earlier in the week.
Responding, Bamidele accused the former Edo governor of creating “unnecessary drama” on the Senate floor and cited Order 52(6) of the Senate rules, which bars reconsideration of issues already decided during the current session except through a substantive motion.
The controversy followed amendments passed on Tuesday restricting eligibility for presiding and principal offices to senators who must have served at least two consecutive terms immediately before nomination.
The revised rules effectively limited eligibility for Senate President and Deputy Senate President in the 11th Senate to lawmakers currently serving in the 10th Senate who secure re-election in 2027.
The move sparked speculation that the amendment was designed to block the return of former senators, including Hope Uzodimma, Ifeanyi Okowa and Ovie Omo-Agege, from contesting for the Senate presidency in 2027.
Before the amendment, any ranking senator with at least four years in the chamber was eligible to contest for presiding offices.