The Nigerian Senate has reversed a provision in its standing orders that required senators-elect to take their oath of office before participating in the election of presiding officers.
The motion for rescission was moved by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele during plenary.
The Senate said the clause introduced under Orders 2(2) and 3(1) of the amended standing orders could create constitutional inconsistencies with Section 52 of the 1999 Constitution.
The now-reversed provision had required newly elected senators in the 11th Senate to be sworn in before voting for the Senate President and Deputy Senate President, marking a departure from previous parliamentary practice.
With the reversal, the Senate returned to its earlier procedure, allowing senators-elect to participate in the election of presiding officers before taking their oath of office.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole welcomed the reversal, saying it showed the need for wider debate during future amendments to the Senate rules.
The development follows recent amendments by the Senate restricting eligibility for presiding and principal offices to lawmakers who have served at least two consecutive terms immediately before nomination.
WHAT THIS MEANS: The reversal restores the Senate’s long-standing parliamentary tradition and removes a procedural requirement that critics argued could complicate the inauguration process of a new Senate. It also signals growing internal pushback over recent rule changes introduced by the upper chamber ahead of the 2027 leadership contest.
