The battle over who leads the Senate in 2027 burst into the open Thursday as Senator Adams Oshiomhole called on Senate President Godswill Akpabio to resign, accusing him of pushing through rule changes that disqualify him morally and procedurally.
Oshiomhole said the recent amendment to the Senate Standing Orders on the election of presiding officers is rooted in a “moral crisis” and was designed to narrow competition for the Senate presidency.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja, the Edo North senator argued that Akpabio no longer meets the threshold to preside under the new framework being debated.
“This rule has serious moral crisis,” Oshiomhole said. “The Senate President became minority leader in his first term. He is now the one presiding and asking us to change those rules so that even those who have done one term can’t contest.”
He pointed out that Akpabio has not served eight consecutive years in the Senate if you combine his previous and current terms.
“So if we pass the rule that we must do eight consecutive years before you can become Senate President, it means he has to leave by example by vacating, because he is presiding without acquiring the necessary qualification,” he said.
Oshiomhole drew parallels with former Senate President David Mark, warning against altering rules for political convenience after benefiting from them.
“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?” he asked.
“Why change them now because he fears that more senators will be eligible, which will broaden the competitive base? So he wants to choke it. If other people are afraid, I am not.”
The call for resignation comes a day after Akpabio threatened to remove Oshiomhole from the chamber over repeated interruptions during plenary.
Akpabio had warned that persistent “Points of Order” raised while he was reading the Votes and Proceedings could lead to disciplinary action.
The clash signals deepening tensions within the APC Senate caucus ahead of the 2027 leadership race, with the eligibility rule emerging as the main flashpoint.
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