The Nigerian Senate has approved a new set of legislative rules aimed at strengthening parliamentary procedures ahead of the 2027 general elections, introducing fresh conditions for the swearing-in of senators and the emergence of principal officers in the Red Chamber.
Under the new guidelines, Senator-elects who are unable to attend the first inauguration session of the Senate will still be allowed to take their Oath of Allegiance and Membership during a subsequent plenary sitting.
However, the Senate warned that any Senator-elect who fails to take the mandatory oath within the stipulated period risks losing the seat, paving the way for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a fresh election for the affected constituency.
The revised rules also make it compulsory for all senators-elect to present their Certificate or Writ of Election alongside evidence of asset declaration before they can be formally sworn in.
In a major development, the Senate stated that senators-elect would be permitted to participate in the election of the Senate President and Deputy Senate President even before taking their oath of office.
The upper legislative chamber further outlined a ranking structure that will guide the selection of presiding officers. According to the new arrangement, priority will be given based on the number of times a senator has been re-elected, followed by previous service in the House of Representatives, while first-time senators will rank last.
To promote national balance and inclusiveness, the Senate also resolved that committee appointments must reflect Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones in order to prevent regional domination in legislative assignments.
The newly approved rules additionally raised the eligibility bar for leadership positions within the Senate.
Henceforth, any senator seeking to contest for the office of Senate President or Deputy Senate President must have completed at least two full Senate terms, amounting to eight years, including the immediate preceding term.
Similarly, only senators who have served at least one complete term in the immediate past Senate will qualify for appointment as Principal Officers.
The development is expected to shape political alignments and strategic calculations among lawmakers ahead of the inauguration of the 11th National Assembly after the 2027 elections.
