Akpabio: Senate Suffered “Humiliation” Of Reversing Itself — Oshiomhole

According to Ireporter Online, the Senator representing Edo North Senatorial District, Adams Oshiomhole, has cautioned that the National Assembly risks legislative missteps when laws are hurriedly processed without adequate scrutiny.

Oshiomhole spoke on Tuesday during an interview with Arise News, where he reacted to the recent controversial amendment of the Senate Standing Rules. He warned that rushed lawmaking could produce errors capable of undermining constitutional order and inadvertently encouraging dictatorial tendencies.

He stressed that every clause in a bill requires careful examination, noting that haste in legislative procedures has previously resulted in avoidable mistakes, including the passage of provisions that later conflicted with existing laws and even the Nigerian Constitution.

“We must not rush in making laws. Every clause, every word requires scrutiny. When we rush, we end up making mistakes—laws that sometimes conflict with existing legislation or even the Constitution. The only way to avoid such errors is through proper debate,” he said.

The former Edo State Governor further argued that lawmakers should be provided with advance copies of proposed legislation to allow sufficient time for review and informed contributions during plenary sessions.

“Anything you want to do, whether rule-changing or law-making, senators should have the benefit of advance copies to study and understand what is being considered,” he added.

Oshiomhole also criticised the handling of his attempt to raise a point of order during plenary, alleging that Senate procedures were not properly observed during the amendment process, a situation that contributed to a disagreement with Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

He maintained that the outcome of the rushed process ultimately led to what he described as an institutional embarrassment, as parts of the amended rules were later reversed after being found to be inconsistent with the Constitution.

“As you can see, there is no better evidence of the danger of rushing than the Senate having to reverse itself after passing rules that were in conflict with the Nigerian Constitution,” he said.

The lawmaker warned against tailoring legislative rules to suit specific individuals or political interests, saying such practices could weaken democratic institutions and pave the way for authoritarian governance.

“You don’t make laws either for yourself or against specific individuals you fear may emerge in future. That is the beginning of the road to dictatorship,” he warned.

Oshiomhole added that leadership selection within the National Assembly should remain dependent on the confidence and support of fellow lawmakers rather than restrictive eligibility clauses.

He concluded that his position on the matter was driven by principle and a desire to safeguard the integrity of the legislature rather than personal considerations.