Nigeria’s Senate has endorsed Senate President Godswill Akpabio and other principal officers for continuity in the 11th National Assembly, declaring their positions effectively closed to competing aspirants ahead of the inauguration of the next legislature in 2027. The move, adopted during Thursday’s plenary, signals support for retaining the current leadership, although the final selection of presiding officers will still depend on the constitutionally prescribed process and votes by senators in the next Assembly.
Key Highlights
- The Senate has declared its support for Godswill Akpabio’s return as Senate President in the 11th National Assembly.
- Senate Chief Whip Mohammed Monguno moved the motion, which Senator Cyril Fasuyi supported.
- The declaration was adopted through a voice vote during Thursday’s plenary.
- The current leadership’s preferred arrangement also covers Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau and other principal officers.
- Senators Abdulaziz Yari and Adams Oshiomhole have been mentioned as potential contenders for the Senate presidency.
- Akpabio acknowledged that the position could attract competing ambitions ahead of the next Assembly.
- The declaration does not legally guarantee the return of the current leadership.
- Akpabio also defended his recent comments on attempted suicide and rejected suggestions that he intended to disparage Islam.
Senate Moves to Secure Akpabio’s Return in 2027
The motion was moved by Senate Chief Whip Mohammed Monguno and supported by Senator Cyril Fasuyi, who represents Ekiti North. Lawmakers adopted it through a voice vote during Thursday’s plenary.
Fasuyi argued that the Senate presidency should not be open to competition in the next Assembly, insisting that Akpabio had already secured the position.
“I hereby support the motion ably moved by Senator Monguno that the seat of the Senate President in the 11th Assembly is not open to any contest. It is already occupied by Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio,” Fasuyi said.
The declaration was extended to the offices of the Deputy Senate President and, signalling the current leadership’s preference for continuity.
However, the motion represents the position expressed by lawmakers during the sitting and does not remove the need for senators elected to the next Assembly to follow the prescribed process for choosing their leaders.
Yari, Oshiomhole Among Potential Senate Presidency Contenders
The move could complicate the ambitions of other senators reportedly interested in the Senate presidency, including Abdulaziz Yari and Adams Oshiomhole.
Akpabio acknowledged that the position had become an attractive political target following the conclusion of contests for other major political offices.
“I know the position of president is gone, the position of vice president is gone, the only one that is left now is the position of Senate President. So everybody will want to contest that,” he said.
His remarks highlight the political calculations surrounding the leadership of the next National Assembly, where the selection of presiding officers can involve negotiations among lawmakers and political blocs.
Despite the Senate’s declaration, the eventual leadership of the 11th National Assembly will emerge through the prescribed legislative process, including votes by senators at the inauguration of the new Assembly.
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Akpabio Defends Senate Debates, Warns TV Commentators
During the same plenary, Akpabio cautioned television commentators and political analysts against interpreting lawmakers’ contributions during debates in ways he described as politically motivated.
He said disagreements were a normal part of legislative proceedings and urged the public to focus on decisions reached by the Senate rather than isolated remarks made during debates.
“I don’t like the idea of people sitting down on television and trying to misinterpret what we discuss here in the Senate. We want to make the best laws, so we are bound to oppose each other and we are also bound to support each other, no matter the discussion,” he said.
“Please take the final decision of the Senate into consideration. Don’t go and sit down in panels and try to do politically motivated discussions,” he added.
The comments followed public criticism of Akpabio’s remarks during Tuesday’s debate on a proposed review of the criminalisation of attempted suicide.
Akpabio Responds to Backlash Over Attempted Suicide Debate
During the earlier debate, Akpabio referred to claims about expectations of meeting “seven virgins” in paradise after death, a notion associated with propaganda circulated by some Islamist extremist groups.
His remarks attracted criticism from members of the public and religious groups who considered them derogatory towards Islam.
Responding to the controversy, Akpabio denied that he intended to attack Islam or any other religion. He argued that terrorism should not be associated with a particular faith.
“Terrorists are not Muslims. Terrorists are not Christians. Terrorists are human beings who believe in taking their lives and the lives of others,” he said.
Akpabio also maintained that Islamic teachings prohibit suicide and the killing of innocent people, arguing that suicide bombings could not be justified by claims of anticipated rewards in paradise.
“The Muslim religion that I know forbids suicide. It forbids killing. The Muslim religion that I know does not even allow somebody to take his own life,” he said.
What the Senate’s 2027 Leadership Declaration Means
The Senate’s endorsement signals support among the lawmakers who backed the motion for retaining Akpabio and other current principal officers in the next Assembly.
However, the declaration should not be confused with a legally binding guarantee that the incumbents will retain their positions. The leadership of the 11th National Assembly will be determined through the applicable process when the new Assembly is inaugurated.
The development places the Senate presidency and other leadership positions at the centre of early political discussions ahead of 2027, while Akpabio’s defence of his comments on attempted suicide has opened a separate debate about public interpretation of legislative proceedings and religious sensitivity.
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