Senate President has defended the recent amendment to the Senate Standing Rules, dismissing criticisms by Senator and insisting that the changes were introduced to strengthen the National Assembly rather than serve personal interests.
In a statement issued on Sunday through his spokesman, Eseme Eyiboh, Akpabio said the amendment was designed to promote competence, institutional memory and procedural experience among senators seeking key leadership positions in the Senate.
The Senate President argued that the debate surrounding the amended rules had become unnecessarily focused on personalities instead of the broader institutional benefits.
According to him, leadership of the Senate requires more than political popularity, stressing that the office demands a solid understanding of parliamentary traditions, legislative procedures, committee operations, constitutional interpretation and intergovernmental relations.
Akpabio maintained that legislatures around the world regularly review their rules to improve stability and preserve institutional standards, adding that such reforms should not be viewed as attempts to sideline newcomers.
He also rejected claims that he should resign because the amended rules could affect eligibility requirements for leadership positions.
According to the statement, laws and parliamentary rules are generally applied prospectively and cannot invalidate mandates obtained under previously existing regulations.
The clarification followed recent comments by Oshiomhole, who criticised the amendment and called for Akpabio’s resignation, describing the changes as evidence of a moral crisis within the Senate.
The Edo North senator had argued that the amendment raised concerns about fairness, leadership ethics and eligibility standards in the upper chamber.
However, Akpabio insisted that discussions about the amendment should centre on whether the changes would strengthen the Senate as a democratic institution rather than on the ambitions or grievances of individual politicians.
