WorldStage– A political commentator, Jake Epelle, has condemned Senate President, Godswill Akpabio’s move to retain the position in the next upper legislative chamber.
It will be recalled that some senators had on October 15, 2026 moved a motion declaring that there is “no vacancy” in the Senate leadership for the 11th National Assembly.
Speaking out against the move, Epelle, who is also the founder and CEO of TAF Africa, reminded Akpabio that the office of the Senate President is neither a hereditary throne nor a monarchy.
He argued that attempting to preempt or lock down the leadership position of a future legislative assembly before an election has even taken place violates the Nigerian Constitution and disrespects the electorate.
The controversial motion, backed by lawmakers signalling premature support for Akpabio to retain his seat, has triggered broader public backlash.
Critics and analysts point out that any claim of a filled or non-vacant seat in a yet-to-be-elected parliament bypasses democratic procedure.
Under the rules of the legislature, the election of a Senate President is the exclusive prerogative of newly elected senators who must first win their individual constituency seats in the general elections.
Epelle characterized the resolution as an affront to democratic norms, stressing that a current assembly cannot legally bind or dictate the leadership structure of an incoming 11th National Assembly.
As debates intensify around legislative independence and the 2027 political landscape, analysts warn that such pre-election endorsements undermine institutional credibility and the constitutional rights of voters to choose their representatives freely.
