Senate rescinds amended standing rules on presiding officers’ election

The Senate on Thursday rescinded the earlier amendments to Orders 2(2) and 3(1) of the Senate Standing Orders 2023 (as amended), retaining previous rules after the emergence of constitutional concerns.

The Senate had recently amended the standing rules, restricting principal leadership positions exclusively to lawmakers serving, at least, second terms.

The revised provisions stated that only serving 10th Senate lawmakers re-elected during the 2027 general election would qualify to contest principal officer positions.

Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele (Ekiti Central) moved the motion for rescission and re-committal of Orders 2(2) and 3(1) during plenary in Abuja on Thursday, with Minority Leader Abba Moro (Benue South), seconding it.

Bamidele said further legislative and constitutional reviews revealed possible conflicts with provisions of Nigeria’s Constitution, particularly Section 52, necessitating immediate parliamentary corrections.

He said the red chamber retained authority to revisit, rescind and recommit previously-concluded matters to protect legislative integrity, parliamentary convention, and legislative practice.

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The lawmakers subsequently rescinded earlier decision on the amendments to Orders 2(2) and 3(1) of the Senate standing orders and retained previous provisions.

Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, who presided over the plenary, described the motion as straightforward and necessary for ensuring compliance with constitutional provisions.

Barau said: “This is a very straightforward motion; it’s just for us to go in conformity with the constitution. I thank the leader for being observant and up to his game as the leader of the senate by making this observation.

“It is something that is very clear and we don’t need any debate in respect of this.”