The Senate has amended its rules to stop first term Senators from contesting for any presiding officer position.
The Senate made the announcement on Tuesday during its legislative proceedings.
The amendment of Rule 3(2) (1-3) of the Senate Standing Orders follows a motion moved by the Senate Majority Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele.
With the new amendment to the standing orders, first term senators are now disqualified to contest for the position of Senate president and deputy.
Rule 3 of the Senate Standing Orders as amended now stipulates that any senator wishing to contest for the position of the Senate President and Deputy must have spent a minimum of one term in the Senate.
This action by the Senate is likely in response to the leadership tussle before the swearing-in of lawmakers in the 10th Senate a few months ago when a first-term Senator, Abdulaziz Yari, contested for the position of Senate President against Senator Godswill Akpabio.
The Senate also amended its rules and created an additional nine Standing Committees. The Senate presently has 74 Standing Committees.
