The Nigerian Senate has reversed its earlier decision barring first-time senators from contesting for presiding offices, effectively reopening the race for Senate President and Deputy Senate President ahead of the 11th National Assembly.
The reversal, adopted on Thursday, rescinded amendments made just two days earlier to the Senate Standing Orders that had imposed stricter eligibility requirements for leadership positions in the chamber.
The initial amendment, passed after a marathon executive session on Tuesday, limited eligibility for Senate President and other top offices to ranking lawmakers returning to the Senate after re-election. It also established a hierarchy favouring former Senate Presidents, former Deputy Senate Presidents, former Principal Officers, returning senators with at least one completed term, and lawmakers transitioning from the House of Representatives before considering first-time senators.
However, the Senate made a dramatic U-turn during plenary on Thursday through a motion sponsored by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele and presided over by Deputy Senate President Jubril Barau.
Explaining the decision, Bamidele said the controversial provisions raised constitutional concerns and required urgent reconsideration.
“The Senate recalls that the Senate Standing Orders were considered and amended on Tuesday, 5th May, 2026,” he said.
“Observes that upon further legislative and constitutional review, certain provisions introduced under Order 2(2) and Order 3(1) may give rise to constitutional inconsistencies and unintended tensions with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), particularly Section 52 thereof.”
He added that the Senate must ensure its rules remain consistent with constitutional provisions, parliamentary conventions, and legislative practice.
“Further notes that the Senate possesses the inherent parliamentary authority to revisit, rescind, and recommit any matter previously decided upon in order to preserve the integrity of its proceedings and legislative framework,” Bamidele stated.
The motion, titled
“Rescission and Re-Committal of Order 2(2) and Order 3(1) of the Senate Standing Orders, 2023, as amended,” was subsequently adopted by the chamber.
With the reversal, all elected senators regardless of tenure can now contest for leadership positions in the 11th Senate, a move widely seen as reopening the field for a more competitive and inclusive leadership contest ahead of 2027.
The Senate also approved the rescission and recommittal of the National Identity Management Commission (Establishment) Bill, 2026, to the Committee of the Whole for further consideration.
