Fresh political tension gripped the Nigerian Senate on Tuesday, November 18, as a controversial move to amend the Senate Standing Orders was abruptly stepped down amid fierce resistance from lawmakers. Multiple senators, led by Minority Leader Abba Moro (PDP, Benue South), accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of orchestrating a “secret plot” to change the rules in a way that could bar potential rivals from contesting or voting in future elections for presiding officers.
The proposed amendments, sponsored by Senate Leader Michael Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), were listed on the Order Paper as a motion for the “Presentation and Consideration of the Amendments to the Senate Standing Orders 2023 to Accommodate New Committees and Enhance Legislative Practice.” Officially, the changes were described as routine updates to align with “emerging national realities,” including the creation of new committees and harmonisation with the House of Representatives.
However, sources inside the Red Chamber told reporters that hidden clauses went much further. One provision reportedly sought to tighten “qualification and ranking criteria” for presiding officer positions, potentially favouring long-serving (“ranking”) senators and making it harder for first-term or returning senators to contest. Another clause allegedly aimed to restrict participation of certain senators-elect in leadership elections.
“The Senate is trying to change the rule to bar some senators from contesting, voting, and participating in the process of electing Senate presiding officers,” a senior senator who spoke on condition of anonymity told SaharaReporters. “This is a political weapon disguised as procedural reform.”
The chamber erupted in murmurs when Moro rose on a point of order, citing Order 109 of the existing Standing Orders. He insisted that any amendment must be formally submitted in writing, printed, circulated to all senators at least seven days in advance, and properly listed on the Order Paper before debate. “Have we followed due process?” Moro reportedly asked, forcing leadership to back down.
Even Senate President Akpabio, a former Governor of Akwa Ibom State and prominent Niger Delta son, appeared to distance himself from the controversy. Acknowledging concerns over the ranking clause, he quipped: “Number four means nobody will be Senate President if someone newly elected is the party’s candidate. Senator Yau with number four, you automatically become Senate President because you are a landlord here.” The remark drew laughter but underscored fears that the changes could predetermine future leadership outcomes.
Akpabio ultimately upheld Moro’s point of order and stepped down the motion, preventing a full-blown row on the floor. Yet the damage was done — whispers of a “power consolidation plot” spread quickly across Abuja’s political circles.
For Niger Delta stakeholders, the episode hits close to home. Godswill Akpabio, who assumed the Senate presidency in June 2023 after a keenly contested race, remains a polarising figure in the region. His leadership has delivered visible gains for the South-South, including stronger oversight of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) implementation and pushback against environmental degradation in the oil-producing states. However, critics — including some PDP elements in Rivers, Bayelsa, and Delta — accuse him of centralising power and sidelining opposition voices.
This latest saga comes barely 24 hours after Niger Delta youth groups threatened to shut down oil production if alleged “harassment” of Akpabio by federal agencies continues. The Pan Niger Delta Youth Council and other militants-in-waiting linked the probes to political rivals eyeing the Senate presidency ahead of the 2027 cycle. Tuesday’s amendment drama has now fuelled those suspicions, with some viewing it as a pre-emptive strike to neutralise challengers.
“Any attempt to witch-hunt our son will be resisted,” a youth leader from Akwa Ibom told Niger Delta Herald. “But if the Senate President himself is trying to change rules to stay in power forever, that is not democracy. The Niger Delta wants fair play, not monarchy in the Red Chamber.”
Political analysts say the botched amendment exposes deepening cracks in the 10th Senate. With 2027 approaching, leadership positions are already hotly contested behind closed doors. Akpabio, eligible to run again, enjoys strong APC backing but faces quiet opposition from northern senators and PDP holdouts still bitter over the 2023 leadership election.
As of press time, neither Akpabio’s media team nor the Senate Spokesman, Yemi Adaramodu, has issued an official response to the allegations. Sources say the amendments could be reintroduced after “proper circulation” — possibly as early as next plenary.
Niger Delta watchers will be monitoring closely. In a region where resource control and political equity remain burning issues, any perception that one of its own is clinging to power undemocratically could trigger backlash. For now, the Senate has dodged a bullet, but the echoes of Tuesday’s uproar are likely to reverberate all the way to the creeks.
