Akpabio, Uzodimma, and Game2027

Olusegun Adeniyi

Although Senate Standing Rules largely exempt a first‑time senator from serving as a principal officer, Godswill Akpabio was announced as Minority Leader on 28 July 2015. Akpabio had just left the governorship of Akwa Ibom State a few weeks earlier and was nominated for the position by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Kabir Marafa, an All Progressives Congress (APC) senator from Zamfara State, challenged the appointment, arguing that Akpabio was not qualified to be a principal officer because he had never served as a senator, while the PDP had several returning senators who could have filled the role.

Marafa cited the relevant Senate Standing Rules to support his claim, but Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu countered, stating that the decision was an internal PDP matter and not his concern as an APC member. “If the ranking senators cannot take the position for any reason, then the next level of ranking senators can be considered,” Ekweremadu said. Senate President Dr Bukola Saraki used his gavel to end the debate, telling Marafa that, since PDP senators were not objecting, he should “stop crying more than the bereaved.”

Three years later, on 7 August 2018, Akpabio resigned as Minority Leader, joined the ruling APC, and was subsequently appointed to a cabinet position by the late President Muhammadu Buhari. Having learned how the Senate Standing Rules can be manipulated, Akpabio introduced a controversial rule for the 11th Senate, known as the “Akpabio Law.” The rule states that no one can be elected Senate President unless they have served as a senator for at least two full eight‑year terms, one of which must immediately precede the election.

Within 48 hours of the session, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele presented a further amendment, arguing that officer elections must occur before senators are sworn in, thereby breaching section 52 of the 1999 Constitution. The “minor error” was quickly corrected, but Senator Adams Oshiomhole, who opposed the amendment, recorded his concerns. “I believe the average age in this Senate is over 40, and so we don’t have an excuse for youthful exuberance,” Oshiomhole said, criticizing the rushed amendment process. He later reiterated on ARISE Television that “you don’t make laws either for yourself or against specific individuals that you fear will come.”

The new rule appears aimed at current Imo State Governor Chief Hope Uzodimma, who represented Imo West Senatorial District from 2011 to 2019 and serves as Chair of the APC Governors Forum. Uzodimma has spent more time in the Senate than Akpabio and is a significant political figure. The upcoming contest for the Imo West senatorial seat will pit Uzodimma against former governor Rochas Okorocha, who served in the Senate from 2019 to 2023, and incumbent Osita Izunaso, who served from 2007 to 2011. Uzodimma’s governorship ends in January 2028, so he may seek a Senate seat in the 2027 general election, potentially using a “placeholder” strategy. “My dear people of Imo West Senatorial District have once again called upon me to serve, and I have accepted the noble call with humility, sincerity of purpose, and unwavering commitment to the collective advancement of our people,” Uzodimma posted on his X handle after his party’s screening last weekend.

Since no law bars a serving governor from contesting a Senate seat, Uzodimma can retain his governorship if he loses, or refuse to be sworn in as a senator if he wins and the Senate Presidency bid fails, leaving the seat vacant. The timing of a subsequent by‑election could be delayed until he leaves office in January 2028, allowing him to run again. These possibilities raise questions about whether such strategic calculations serve the public good.

Akpabio’s new rules may ultimately be short‑lived, as they could be reversed if Aso Rock prefers another Senate President next year. If the Senate’s rule changes are not scrutinized, it undermines accountability and public trust. The Senate, a critical legislative body, should not be a venue for self‑serving legislation that weakens the rule of law.

Oshiomhole’s remarks about “youthful exuberance” touch on the maturity expected of the Senate. An article by Betty K. Koed, an associate historian at the United States Senate Historical Office, illustrates the Senate’s role: “The Senate is the saucer into which we pour legislation to cool.” The Senate’s responsibilities—confirming executive and judicial appointments, removing presidents, and declaring war—make it a vital institution that should not be manipulated for personal gain. According to Prof. Brown Imasuen, the “Akpabio Law” effectively neuters the democratic essence of the legislature. “Leadership positions in the Senate are not mere ceremonial perches; they determine committee chairmanships, legislative priorities, budgetary allocations, and the vigor of oversight,” Imasuen wrote. “When these positions are pre‑ordained for a select clique, many of whom, like Akpabio, have accumulated more scandals than achievements, the entire legislative machinery becomes an extension of personal empires rather than a servant of the people.”

Imasuen’s piece, “Akpabio’s Brazen Rape of Legislative Democracy,” highlights the rot at the core of the current democratic experiment. “A legislature that cannot even manage its own succession without descending into self‑serving chicanery has no moral authority to lecture the executive or the judiciary,” he wrote. “The developmental paralysis indicated by youth unemployment, brain drain, crumbling education and health systems, and pervasive insecurity stems fundamentally from this elite consensus that public office is a private estate, rules are malleable, and the people are expendable.”

I honestly don’t know what else to add!

Congratulations, Linda Ejiofor‑Suleiman

Linda Ejiofor‑Suleiman made history at the 12th Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards (AMVCA) last week, winning both “Best Lead Actress” for her role in “The Serpent’s Gift” and “Best Supporting Actress” for her role in “The Herd.” She is a rare combination of talent, beauty, intellect, and character—a professional whose inner strength matches her outward charm and grace.

My friendship with Linda and her husband Ibrahim began ten years ago when Pastor (Dr) Evaristus Azodoh and The Everlasting Arms Parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) launched an annual teens career conference to inspire young people. The first edition in 2016, themed “Your Life, Your Future: Not a Laughing Matter,” featured speakers such as Mr Atunyota Alleluya Akpobome (Ali Baba), Dr Serah Alade, Mrs Ifueko Omoigui‑Okauru, and Ms Chinelo Anohu. The 2017 edition, themed “Life is a Stage,” was anchored by Nollywood actor Mr Richard Mofe‑Damijo (