Senate tightens rules, bars ex-governors from principal offices in 11th NASS

Barely a year to the inauguration of the 11th National Assembly, the Senate has amended its Standing Rules, restricting eligibility for key leadership positions and effectively sidelining incoming lawmakers, including serving governors and other political heavyweights.

 

The amendments, adopted after a closed-door session on Tuesday, revise Orders 4 and 5 to prioritise ranking senators with defined legislative experience for both presiding and principal offices.

 

The move comes amid heightened political manoeuvring ahead of the 2027 general elections, with several outgoing governors and former officeholders positioning to contest Senate seats and potentially vie for top roles such as Senate President and Deputy Senate President.

 

Under the revised Order 4, the Senate reaffirmed a strict hierarchy for the emergence of presiding officers. The ranking order places former Senate Presidents and Deputies at the top, followed by former principal officers, senators with at least one term experience, former members of the House of Representatives, and, lastly, first-time senators.

 

In addition, a new provision under Order 5 introduces a stricter requirement, stating that any senator seeking a principal office must have served at least two consecutive terms immediately preceding nomination.

 

The implication is significant: senators-elect who were not members of both the 9th and 10th National Assembly will be ineligible to contest for principal offices in the 11th Assembly.

 

Presiding offices in the Senate include the Senate President and Deputy Senate President, while principal offices comprise Senate Leader, Deputy Senate Leader, Chief Whip, Deputy Whip, Minority Leader, Deputy Minority Leader, Minority Whip and Deputy Minority Whip.

 

The rule changes come against the backdrop of a growing scramble for Senate seats, particularly among governors completing their constitutionally permitted two terms.

 

At least 12 of the 36 state governors are in their final terms, with 10 expected to leave office by May 29, 2027. Many are already making moves to secure senatorial tickets, leveraging their influence within party structures.

 

Among those expected to exit office in 2027 are Governors AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (Kwara), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), Babagana Zulum (Borno), Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe), Mai Mala Buni (Yobe), Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), and Bala Mohammed (Bauchi).

 

Although Bayelsa’s Douye Diri and Imo’s Hope Uzodimma will complete their tenures in 2028 due to off-cycle elections, both have been linked to early senatorial permutations.

 

In Imo State, political tensions have intensified following moves by the All Progressives Congress to position Uzodimma for the Imo West senatorial seat. Party leaders have reportedly named him a consensus candidate, even as incumbent Senator Osita Izunaso and former Governor Rochas Okorocha are said to be eyeing the same seat.

 

Last week, APC leaders from the Orlu Zone purchased the party’s 2027 senatorial nomination form on Uzodimma’s behalf, urging him to accept the ticket ahead of the submission deadline.

 

The contest reflects broader internal dynamics within the ruling party, especially after President Bola Tinubu reportedly declined requests by National Assembly leaders for automatic return tickets, instead reaffirming the role of governors in candidate selection.