The upper chamber of Nigeria's National Assembly is witnessing a high-stakes clash of titans. Senate President Godswill Akpabio has hit back at Senator Adams Oshiomhole (Edo North), dismissing calls for his resignation and fiercely defending the controversial new amendments to the Senate Standing Rules.

The drama unfolded after Oshiomhole publicly accused Akpabio of presiding over a "moral crisis," claiming the new rules—which restrict certain leadership positions to highly experienced senators—were designed to choke out competition and protect personal interests.

"Experience Matters" — Akpabio's Defense

Responding via a statement on Sunday through his spokesperson, Eseme Eyiboh, Akpabio argued that the rule changes are about institutional stability, not personal politics. He insisted that leading the Senate requires deep institutional memory rather than just raw political popularity.

“The controversy surrounding the recent amendment to the Senate Standing Rules has generated more heat than light," Akpabio stated. "Parliamentary leadership is not merely ceremonial... It requires deep familiarity with parliamentary traditions, legislative procedures, negotiation dynamics, committee systems, constitutional interpretation, and intergovernmental relations. Experience matters.”

Akpabio pointed out that democratic legislatures worldwide frequently update their rules to strengthen the institution, and Nigeria should be no exception.

The Legality: Can a Rule Change Oust a Sitting Senate President?

One of Oshiomhole's sharpest criticisms was that if the strict new experience thresholds were applied, Akpabio himself might not qualify—making his continued leadership hypocritical unless he resigned.

Akpabio completely rejected this logic, giving Oshiomhole a quick lesson on legislative law:

  • Prospective, Not Retroactive: Laws apply to the future, not the past.

  • Legitimate Mandate: A new rule cannot be used backward to cancel a leadership position that was already legally won under the old rules.

“The amendment cannot logically invalidate a mandate that was legitimately acquired under previously existing rules,” the statement declared.

The Power Hustle Ahead of 2027

With the 2027 election cycle looming, this public fallout between two APC heavyweights signals a deepening rift within the ruling party’s Senate caucus. By locking the doors of principal offices to newer or less institutionalized senators, Akpabio’s leadership is drawing a clear line in the sand—one that senators like Oshiomhole are clearly ready to fight.