By Omoyeni Ojeifo
Senator Adams Oshiomhole representing Edo North in the 10th Senate has called on the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, to resign if the proposed amendment to Senate leadership rules requiring eight consecutive years in office before anyone can contest for the position is adopted.
In an interview on AIT, monitored by Persecondnews on Thursday, Oshiomhole described the move as morally flawed and politically motivated.
He pointed out that the Senate President became Minority Leader almost immediately after entering the Senate, and within his first term.
According to him, if the proposed rule is eventually passed, the Senate President should step aside in line with the same standard.
“As we speak today, the Senate President has not spent up to eight years in office, even if you combine his previous and current tenures.
“So if we pass a rule that says you must serve eight consecutive years before becoming Senate President, then he should lead by example by vacating the seat because he did not meet that qualification before presiding,” the former Edo governor said.
Oshiomhole alleged that the proposed amendment was aimed at narrowing future competition for the office of Senate President.
“Last time, the ranking rule was what applied, and it happened that the most qualified person from the zone where the position was micro-zoned emerged. Now that broadens the competition, they want to tighten the rules further,” he said.
He also defended the existing Senate tradition, citing former Senate President David Mark as an example, insisting that past leaders emerged under the same rules now being targeted for amendment.
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