Trending 
Senator Adams Oshiomhole has called for the resignation of Senate President Godswill Akpabio following the recent amendment to the Senate Standing Orders regulating the emergence of presiding and principal officers.
Oshiomhole criticised the new regulations in an interview with reporters in Abuja on Thursday, claiming that Akpabio would not be eligible for his job under the same terms.
“This rule has serious moral crisis. The Senate president became minority leader on his first term. He is now the one presiding and asking us to change those rules even those who have done one term can’t even contest,” Oshiomhole said.
“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.”
The former Edo State governor argued that Akpabio should lead by example.
“So if we pass the rule that we must do eight consecutive years before you can become Senate president, it means he has to lead by example by vacating because he is presiding without acquiring necessary qualification.”
Oshiomhole also warned against altering rules to benefit sitting leaders.
“More offensive to me is that as leaders who are products of by-laws, we must not make laws to perpetrate anyone. David Mark had the honour and privilege of serving as Senate president for eight years, not by playing by the rules.”
“Those rules that enabled David Mark to preside for eight years, what happened to them? Why changing them now because he fears that more senators will be eligible which will broaden the competitive base. So he wants to soak it. If other people are afraid, I am not,” he added.
The Senate on Tuesday approved amendments requiring lawmakers to serve at least two uninterrupted consecutive terms to be eligible for leadership positions. On Thursday, the Senate reversed parts of the amendments to Orders 2(2) and 3(1), citing possible conflicts with Section 52 of the 1999 Constitution.
