THE Senate amended its standing orders to prohibit first-term Senators from running for Senate President or Deputy Senate President.
The Senate changed its order during today’s legislative session.
The Senate Standing Orders Rule 3(2) (1-3) was amended in response to a resolution presented by Senate Leader Senator Opeyemi Bamidele.
With the new amendment to the Senate’s standing orders, first-term senators are no longer qualified or eligible to run for the job of presiding officer of the upper house.
Rule 3 of the Senate Standing Orders, as revised, now requires any senator seeking to run for Senate President or Deputy Senate President to have served at least one term.
This action by the Senate is likely in response to the leadership squabble that occurred before the swearing-in of members in the 10th Senate a few months ago, when Senator Abdulaziz Yari, a first-term Senator, competed for the position of Senate President against Senator Godswill Akpabio.
The Senate also changed its rules and established nine new Standing Committees. There are now 74 Standing Committees in the Senate.
