Battle for Senate leadership positions deepens

The 8th Assembly is expected to be inaugurated on June 4 and already ranking senators have started agitating for strict compliance with Senate standing rules which provide that ranking or seniority should be given priority in the election and appointment of principal officers.Sources in the National Assembly said ranking senators have commenced lobbying for leadership […]

The 8th Assembly is expected to be inaugurated on June 4 and already ranking senators have started agitating for strict compliance with Senate standing rules which provide that ranking or seniority should be given priority in the election and appointment of principal officers.
Sources in the National Assembly said ranking senators have commenced lobbying for leadership positions on the ground that senior lawmakers should be considered first.
The Senate Standing Orders 2011, in Chapter II, essentially removes any ambiguity about the status of senators in the chamber.
Rule 2 states that in determining ranking, “the following order shall apply: (i) Senators returning based on number of times re-elected; (II) Senators who had been members of the House of Representatives; (iii) Senators elected as senators for the first time.”
Based on this ranking rule, only senators who have been returned in order of seniority are expected to be first considered for appointment and election into leadership positions.
Already, the All Progressives Congress (APC) senators, having formed the majority, are expected to fill the positions of Senate President, Deputy Senate President, Senate Majority Leader, Chief Whip, Deputy Majority Leader and Deputy Chief Whip.
On the other hand, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senators are also angling to occupy the minority positions
The North-east and North-central zones are in contention for the Senate presidency, while the deputy Senate president is expected to come from the South-west.
The South-south and the South-east may have slots in the minority positions, having failed to return any of their ranking APC senators.
For the Senate leader’s slot, the North-west is expected to fill that, with many ranking senators from the zone.