Oshiomhole Hits Akpabio with Resignation Demand Over Senate Rule Crisis

ABUJA – The Red Chamber was rocked by a fresh wave of political turbulence on Thursday as Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North) openly demanded the resignation of Senate President Godswill Akpabio. The call follows a controversial amendment to the Senate Standing Orders that Oshiomhole claims has plunged the National Assembly into a “moral and procedural crisis.”

​At the heart of the dispute is a newly passed rule that restricts eligibility for the Senate Presidency to lawmakers who have served at least two consecutive and uninterrupted terms. Oshiomhole argues that by championing these restrictive rules, Akpabio has inadvertently disqualified himself from his own seat.

​The “Moral Crisis” Argument

​Addressing journalists in Abuja, Oshiomhole pointed out that Akpabio, who served as Minority Leader during his first term and transitioned through the executive as a Minister before returning to the Senate, does not meet the “eight consecutive years” threshold being imposed on future candidates.

​“The Senate President is presiding and asking us to change rules so that even those who have done one term can’t contest,” Oshiomhole stated. “If we pass the rule that you must do eight consecutive years to become Senate President, he must lead by example and vacate his seat because he is presiding without the very qualification he is seeking to entrench.”

​Oshiomhole further compared the situation to the tenure of former Senate President David Mark, noting that Mark never sought to “stifle competition” by altering the by-laws to perpetrate his leadership or narrow the field of eligible candidates.

​A Legislative U-Turn

​The demand for resignation comes amid chaotic scenes on the Senate floor. Earlier this week, the chamber rushed through amendments to Orders 2(2) and 3(1). However, by Thursday, the Senate was forced into an embarrassing retreat, formally rescinding portions of those amendments citing “constitutional inconsistencies” with Section 52 of the 1999 Constitution.

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​Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele moved the motion for rescission, admitting that the changes regarding the timing of oath-taking and voting eligibility could spark “unintended tensions.” Despite this partial reversal, the stricter eligibility criteria for presiding officers—the primary source of Oshiomhole’s ire—reportedly remains in place.

​Internal Fractures

​The controversy has exposed deep divisions within the 11th National Assembly. While Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau praised the reversal as a “straightforward constitutional correction,” Oshiomhole slammed the initial process as a “rushed job” influenced by vested interests looking toward the 2027 political cycle.

​In a sharp procedural rebuke, Senator Bamidele warned Oshiomhole against creating “unnecessary drama” and insisted that any grievances should be brought via substantive motions rather than media outbursts.

​As the dust settles on this legislative skirmish, the focus remains on Akpabio’s leadership. With critics accusing him of “soaking” the competitive base of the Senate to protect his position, the calls for his exit mark the most significant internal challenge to his presidency since June 2023.