Tension Rises As Akpabio, Uzodimma, Oshiomhole Disagree On Senate President Choice

There is a fierce battle for power taking place in the Senate after changes in its standing rules that could shape the leadership structure of the next National Assembly.

At the heart of the intrigue are Senate President, Godswill Akpabio; Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma; and the senator representing Imo West, Osita Izunaso.

Former Edo State governor and ex-National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole is also in the political calculations.

On Tuesday, the Senate revised its rules of procedure to limit the positions of principal and presiding.

Under the new rules, those senators who will run for the Senate President and Deputy Senate President positions must have served at least eight years in the chamber.

The amendment also addresses other major offices of the red chamber.

Under Order 4, nomination for presiding offices should follow strictly ranking, which includes former Senate Presidents, former Deputy Senate Presidents, former principal officers, senators who have served at least one term, former members of the House of Representatives and first-time senators where others are unavailable.

5. No senator shall be eligible to stand for any principal office unless he has served for at least two consecutive terms immediately preceding nomination.

The amendment effectively disqualifies incoming senators in 2027 who were not members of both the 9th and 10th Senate to contest for Senate President, Deputy Senate President, Senate Leader, Chief Whip, Minority Leader and other influential positions.

Before the amendment, any ranking senator who had served for not less than four years in the National Assembly was eligible to contest for the presiding offices.

The provision had allowed for the return of political heavyweights that are expected to contest seats in 2027, including Uzodimma; former Delta State governor, Ifeanyi Okowa; and former Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege.

Sources told TheCable that the amendment was more political calculation than parliamentary procedure.

One source described it as a “preemptive strike against ambitious returnees, especially Uzodimma.”

Uzodimma Wants Back To Senate
Uzodimma is reportedly eyeing a return to the Senate in 2027.

Last week, the APC stakeholders in Imo West Senatorial District bought and handed over the ruling party’s senatorial nomination and expression of interest forms to the governor, who they said was their preferred candidate.

He has also been endorsed by the Imo APC for the Senate seat.

Uzodimma was elected governor of Imo State in 2020 after the Supreme Court voided the election of Emeka Ihedioha and declared him winner of the governorship poll. He was a member of the House of Representatives representing Imo West from 2011 to 2019.

That ruling changed Imo’s election calendar. The state is an off-cycle governorship state, with Uzodimma inaugurated on January 15, 2020, months after the governors were elected in the 2019 general election.

His second term began on January 15, 2024 and is scheduled to end on January 15, 2028.

Considered Placeholder Selection
The next National Assembly will be inaugurated in June 2027, months before Uzodimma’s tenure as governor.

Insiders said the governor could opt for a placeholder candidate for the Orlu Senate seat in 2027, a trusted ally who would hold the seat temporarily and give it up after Uzodimma completes his term in January 2028.

The governor is also considering resigning before the end of his term and passing the reins to his deputy for the last few months, sources said.

Such a move would jeopardize Izunaso’s chances of returning to the Senate.

But the new Senate rule seems to have blocked Uzodimma’s path to the Senate presidency, even if he eventually returns to the red chamber.

During the deliberations on Tuesday, Oshiomhole was said to be the only one to oppose the amendment on the Senate floor, possibly because the new rule could affect his own ambitions.