Uproar In Senate As Lawmakers Accuse Akpabio Of Secret Plot To Block Rival Senators From Contesting Presiding Offices

Fresh tension erupted on Tuesday inside the Nigerian Senate after an attempt to amend key provisions of the Senate Standing Orders was abruptly stepped down following strong resistance from several lawmakers, including the Minority Leader, Patrick Abba Moro.

A document titled “ORDERS OF THE DAY” for the Tuesday, November 18, 2025 plenary session and obtained by SaharaReporters shows that Senate Majority Leader Michael Opeyemi Bamidele sponsored a motion seeking the “Presentation and Consideration of the Amendments to the Senate Standing Orders 2023 to Accommodate New Committees and Enhance Legislative Practice.”

According to the document, the Senate leadership argued that the Standing Orders must be updated because they “serve as the principal procedural framework that guides the conduct of legislative business, the organisation of committees, and the operations of the Senate.”

The proposed changes, the document added, were necessary as “emerging national realities, new institutional developments, and the creation of additional special-purpose Commissions necessitate the review and amendment of existing Standing Orders to ensure alignment with contemporary governance needs.”

The draft amendment also noted the “need to harmonise the jurisdiction of certain Senate Committees with their counterparts in the House of Representatives” and sought updates on issues such as: Participation of Senators-elect in electing presiding officers, and Qualification and ranking criteria for presiding officer positions.

Other issues are; rules on sitting times, permission for presiding officers and nominees to drink water during proceedings, criteria for suspension of senators and committee composition and geopolitical representation.

However, the calm presentation of the motion quickly collapsed into a heated confrontation on the floor.

A senator who was present at the plenary told SaharaReporters that the Minority Leader challenged the process, raising a Point of Order 108, insisting that “the amendment about to carry out is not following due process.”

According to him, the objections triggered visible tension across the chamber before the Senate leadership was forced to step down the motion.

Another source familiar with the contentious session told SaharaReporters that several lawmakers believed the amendment was a political weapon disguised as procedural reform.

“The senate is trying to change the rule to bar some senators from contesting, voting and participating in the process of electing senate presiding officers,” the source said, explaining that the plan angered many lawmakers.

He added that the pushback was overwhelming, forcing the leadership to abandon the proposal, at least for now.

“It was rejected by many senators and stepped down. This happened from this senate sitting today (Tuesday),” he noted. (SaharaReporters)