By Kingston Magare 12.5.2026
Former Edo State governor and presently representing Edo north in the National Assembly, Adams Oshiomhole has repeated his call for Senate president Godswill Akpabio to resign from the post.
Oshiomhole who was speaking on Arise TV Tuesday insisted that Akpabio, going by the standing rules of the Senate is not qualified to occupy the position. Last week Osiomhole and Akpabio clashed on the floor of the Senate concerning the rules which prohibits Senators who had not done eight years from becoming Senate president.
“The current Senate President served a 4-year term, lost his reelection bid, served as a minister, and returned this term to become Senate President again.
“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 submitted.
The senator argued that the interpretation of the Standing Order has created confusion within the Senate and warned that bending parliamentary rules to favour individuals could weaken democratic institutions.
The comments have added fresh tension to the growing debate over the leadership structure of the 10th Senate and the interpretation of ranking rules guiding principal offices in the National Assembly.