The senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, has called for the resignation of Senate President Godswill Akpabio following controversy surrounding the proposed amendment to the Senate Standing Orders.
Oshiomhole made the demand in Abuja while reacting to debates over changes to the rules guiding the election of presiding and principal officers in the Senate.
The former Edo State governor described the proposed amendment as morally flawed, arguing that Akpabio would not meet the qualification criteria under the same rules he was allegedly seeking to enforce.
“This rule has serious moral crisis,” Oshiomhole said.
“The Senate President became minority leader during his first term.
“He is now presiding over a process seeking to change the rules so that even those who have served one term cannot contest.”
According to him, Akpabio had not completed eight years in the Senate when both his previous and current tenures were combined.
“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,” he stated.
Oshiomhole further argued that if the proposed amendment requiring senators to complete eight consecutive years before contesting for Senate President was adopted, Akpabio should vacate the position in line with the new qualification standard.
“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 because he is presiding without acquiring the necessary qualifications,” he added.
The controversy comes amid heightened debate in the upper chamber over proposed amendments to the Senate Standing Orders.
However, the Senate has since withdrawn the amendment after a motion sponsored by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele and adopted under the supervision of Deputy Senate President Jubril Barau.
Under the previous rules, only senators who had completed two terms, including the immediate preceding term, were eligible to contest for principal offices in the Senate.