President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has defended the recent amendment to the Senate Standing Rules, insisting that the changes were designed to strengthen the institution rather than protect personal political interests.
Akpabio made the clarification in a statement issued on Sunday through his spokesman, Eseme Eyiboh, amid growing criticism surrounding the controversial amendment introducing experience requirements for senators seeking certain presiding and principal offices within the Senate.
The development followed strong objections from the senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, who publicly called for Akpabio’s resignation over the amended rules.
Oshiomhole had described the amendment as evidence of what he termed a “moral crisis” within the Senate, arguing that the process and content of the changes raised concerns about fairness, ethics and eligibility in the Red Chamber.
Responding to the criticism, Akpabio argued that leadership in parliament requires competence, institutional memory and sound understanding of legislative procedures.
“The controversy surrounding the recent amendment to the Senate Standing Rules has generated more heat than light. Unfortunately, much of the public conversation has been framed around personalities rather than principles, and emotions rather than institutional logic,” the statement read.
“Yet the real issue before the Senate is neither about Senator Godswill Akpabio nor Senator Adams Oshiomhole.”
The Senate President stressed that parliamentary leadership goes beyond popularity, noting that the office of Senate President is one of the most sensitive constitutional positions in Nigeria.
According to him, the role demands deep knowledge of legislative traditions, constitutional interpretation, committee systems, negotiation processes and intergovernmental relations.
“Parliamentary leadership is not merely ceremonial. The office of the Senate President is one of the most sensitive and technically demanding constitutional offices in Nigeria,” he stated.
“It requires not only political popularity but also deep familiarity with parliamentary traditions, legislative procedures, negotiation dynamics, committee systems, constitutional interpretation, and intergovernmental relations. Experience matters.”
Akpabio further explained that legislatures across the world regularly review and amend their internal rules to strengthen institutional stability and preserve legislative continuity.
He argued that such reforms should not automatically be interpreted as deliberate attempts to exclude newcomers or weaken competition.
“It is therefore inaccurate to reduce the issue to the suggestion that the amendment was crafted merely to shrink competition or protect personal interests. Institutions do not become stronger by permanently freezing their rules in time,” he said.
The Senate President also rejected arguments suggesting he should resign because the amended qualification requirements would allegedly affect his own eligibility if they had existed earlier.
According to him, laws and parliamentary rules are generally prospective and cannot invalidate mandates legitimately obtained under previous regulations.
“Even more problematic is the argument suggesting that because the new qualification threshold did not exist when Senator Godswill Akpabio emerged as Senate President, he should now resign if the new rule is adopted,” the statement added.
“A law or rule takes effect from the point of enactment forward unless expressly stated otherwise. The amendment cannot logically invalidate a mandate that was legitimately acquired under previously existing rules.”
The debate over the Senate rule amendment has continued to generate reactions within political circles, with supporters describing it as a move to improve legislative leadership while critics argue it could limit inclusiveness and internal democracy within the Senate.
