The Senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, has said that the emergence of Senate President Godswill Akpabio in the current leadership position was a mistake, insisting that existing Senate rules do not support his eligibility.
Oshiomhole made the claim on Tuesday while appearing on Arise Television’s ‘Morning Show’, where he argued that the Senate Standing Order, as it currently stands, does not permit Akpabio to occupy the position of Senate President.
He also supported the stance of Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire, SAN, regarding the amendment of the Senate Standing Order, saying the matter remains unresolved and still open to dispute.
According to him, Akpabio’s legislative record raises concerns about qualification for the role. He noted that the Senate President had previously served a four-year term, lost his re-election bid, later became a minister, and has now returned to the Senate in the current assembly before emerging as Senate President.
“If you add his first term to his current term, he still has not served 8 years. If 8 years is the minimum requirement, Sen. Akpabio does not qualify to preside because he has not met it.
“If he assumed the role in error, that error must be corrected. Also, the word “consecutively” effectively reduces the Senate President’s term to three years for ranking purposes.
“These kinds of laws are what breed dictatorship in Africa,” Oshiomhole said.
