The Senate has reversed its controversial amendment barring first-time senators from contesting for presiding offices, reopening the race for Senate President and Deputy Senate President in the 11th National Assembly.
The decision effectively allows all elected senators, regardless of tenure, to contest for Senate leadership positions in 2027, ending an earlier attempt to restrict eligibility to ranking lawmakers returning from the current Assembly.
The reversal came after growing criticism that the amended Senate Standing Orders conflicted with provisions of the 1999 Constitution. The Senate rescinded the amendment during plenary through a motion sponsored by Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele and presided over by Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau.
The motion, titled “Recession and Re-Committal of Order 2(2) and Order 3(1) of the Senate Standing Orders, 2023, as amended,” was adopted through a voice vote.
Explaining the reversal, Bamidele said the Senate discovered constitutional inconsistencies in the amendments introduced on May 5, 2026. According to him, the Constitution permits senators-elect to participate in the election of presiding officers before taking their oaths of office.
Sources within the Senate told Vanguard that mounting pressure on the leadership forced lawmakers to revisit the issue less than 24 hours after the controversial amendment was passed.
The earlier amendment had restricted eligibility for Senate President and other principal offices to returning senators from the 10th Assembly, effectively excluding first-term lawmakers from the contest.
Following the reversal, Senator Adams Oshiomhole criticised the manner in which the initial amendment was handled and called for broader consultation on sensitive legislative matters. In response, Bamidele condemned what he described as “unnecessary drama” surrounding the issue, insisting the Senate acted to align its rules with constitutional provisions.
Meanwhile, political permutations ahead of the 2027 National Assembly elections have intensified, with several serving and former governors positioning themselves for Senate seats.
Among governors reportedly interested in contesting are Abdullahi Sule, Ahmadu Fintiri, Babagana Zulum, Mai Mala Buni, Dapo Abiodun, Hope Uzodinma and AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
Former governors either already in the Senate or seeking a return include Godswill Akpabio, Orji Kalu, Simon Lalong, Aminu Tambuwal, Seriake Dickson and Gbenga Daniel.
In Ogun East, attention is already shifting to a possible showdown between Governor Dapo Abiodun and Senator Gbenga Daniel, both former governors of the state.
Also joining the race is Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, widow of former Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, who formally declared interest in the Imo East Senatorial seat on the platform of the Labour Party.
