Edo North Senator, Adams Oshiomhole, has described attempts to amend the Senate Standing Rules governing the election of the Senate leaders as “immoral,” saying the rules should not be altered to benefit certain individuals or disadvantage others. Oshiomhole made the remarks during an interview on TVC News’ Beyond the Headline……
Edo North Senator, Adams Oshiomhole, has described attempts to amend the Senate Standing Rules governing the election of the Senate leaders as “immoral,” saying the rules should not be altered to benefit certain individuals or disadvantage others.
Oshiomhole made the remarks during an interview on TVC News’ Beyond the Headline with Nifemi Oguntoye on Monday, July 27, amid discussions over proposed changes to the Senate’s leadership election process.
“I did question the wisdom of rushing to amend the rules that regulate the election of Senate President and Deputy Senate President, and I still believe it is immoral to change the House rules to suit certain persons or to create a disadvantage for any other person.”
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The former Edo State governor said every senator has an equal constitutional right to contest for the leadership of the upper chamber and should be allowed to do so under existing rules.
“Every senator has a right to aspire to be the President of the Senate. Every senator is currently an applicant. Our offices would soon be vacant. We’d soon be going to the polls to convince our electorate to reaffirm their confidence in our stewardship by voting for us.”
Oshiomhole argued that the proposed amendment was unnecessary because the 1999 Constitution already provides the procedure for electing the Senate leadership, making any conflicting provision in the Senate rules ineffective.
“The good news is that this is a wasteful exercise, because the supreme law, which is the Constitution of Nigeria, already dictates the process that must be followed by the Senate in electing the leadership of the Senate.”
He explained that the Senate cannot alter constitutional provisions through amendments to its Standing Rules.
“The Senate cannot amend the Constitution except they do so with the concurrence of the House of Representatives and two-thirds of the state legislatures and assented to by Mr President.”
According to him, no internal parliamentary rule can override the express provisions of the Constitution.
“Nothing anybody can write in any document can alter that express provision in the Nigerian Constitution.”
Oshiomhole also reaffirmed his loyalty to the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying he had remained steadfast even when doing so came at a personal cost.
“Everyone that knows me knows that I’m fiercely loyal. When my loyalty was tested by the previous administration, I stood my ground. They took their job, I stood my ground, and kept my honour.”
