Adams Oshiomhole Questions Godswill Akpabio’s Qualification As Senate President

Senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, has claimed that Senate President Godswill Akpabio emerged as Senate President “by error” due to issues surrounding the Senate Standing Order.
Speaking on Tuesday during an appearance on Arise Television’s Morning Show, Oshiomhole argued that the current Senate rules do not permit Akpabio to occupy the position.
According to him, the position earlier expressed by Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire, SAN, regarding the amendment of the Senate Standing Order remains valid, insisting that the matter is far from over.
Oshiomhole explained that Akpabio previously served a four-year term in the Senate, lost his re-election bid, later became a minister, and has now returned to the Senate where he emerged as Senate President.
He maintained that when Akpabio’s previous and current terms are combined, he still falls short of the required eight years allegedly needed to qualify for the position.
“If you add his first term to his current term, he still has not served eight years. If eight years is the minimum requirement, Senator Akpabio does not qualify to preside because he has not met it,” Oshiomhole stated.
The former Edo State governor further argued that if Akpabio assumed office “in error,” such an error should be corrected, adding that the use of the word “consecutively” in the law weakens the ranking structure for the office of Senate President.
“These kinds of laws are what breed dictatorship in Africa,” he added.
During the interview, Oshiomhole also exchanged playful banter with Arise Television anchor Rufai Oseni, accusing the journalist of always taking a tough stance against him during interviews.
“You fight me every day. I watch you. And you do one-sided punching and I’m like, one day, we will see,” Oshiomhole joked during the programme.