Senate Rescinds Restrictive Rule, Allows Non-Members of 10th Senate to Contest 2027 Leadership Positions
Nigeria’s Senate has reversed its controversial amendment that would have barred first-time senators from contesting for key presiding offices in the 11th National Assembly, thereby allowing lawmakers who are not members of the current 10th Senate to vie for the positions of Senate President and Deputy Senate President in 2027.
The Senate had earlier amended its Standing Orders to require senators seeking presiding offices to have served at least two consecutive terms in the chamber. The amendment generated widespread reactions, as critics argued that it was aimed at limiting the contest to a select group of ranking senators currently serving in the 10th Senate.
However, during Thursday’s plenary, the upper chamber rescinded the amendment following deliberations among lawmakers. The motion for the reversal was moved by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele and presided over by Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau.
With the reversal, incoming senators, former governors, and other political heavyweights expected to secure Senate seats in 2027 are now eligible to contest for the Senate’s top leadership positions regardless of whether they served in the current assembly.
The development is expected to reshape political alignments ahead of the 2027 elections, as the race for the leadership of the 11th Senate is now fully open to both returning and newly elected senators.
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