By Segun Otokiti
WorldStage– When a Nigerian federal lawmaker, Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole, was listed among the least performing senators in legislative business at the Nigeria’s upper chamber of the National Assembly sometime ago, not a few keen political watchers and stakeholders were left mouth wide-open with surprise, because without doubt, and even to his critics, he is one of the most visible and audible in legislative functions among members of the Red Chamber.
Oshiomhole, born April 4, 1952, is a prominent Nigerian politician, former labour leader, and the Senator representing Edo North in the 10th National Assembly. Known for his trademark khaki attire representing his roots in the labour movement and often referred to as Comrade, he is an influential figure in the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He’s always in the media analyzing, pontificating and combating oppositions on criticism of legislative activities/policies, government reform initiatives, as well as putting officials of ministries, agencies and other official institutions to task at various oversight interrogations. Seen by many as voluble, ebullient, articulate and boldly unsparing in his conduct as federal lawmaker of the upper chamber of the National Assembly, the below-bar rating wasn’t only a dent but also a question on what qualifies a lawmaker as performing.
Legislative performance monitoring organizations like OrderPaper and Nigeria Parliament Reports – parliamentary monitoring organizations that specialize in independent reporting on the parliament – had at a time included him in the list of less performing members of the Senate.
Aside Oshiomhole, several senators were also identified by the performance monitoring mediums as being less visible or active in terms of plenary participation and bill sponsorship in the current 10th National Assembly (2023–2027).
According to a 2025 performance review, several former governors in the Senate have been noted for rarely attending plenary sessions or participating in debates when present. Among them are Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara West), reported to rarely attend plenary or participate actively in debates; Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo (Gombe North), identified as one of the silent senators with low legislative participation; Abubakar Sani Bello (Niger North), noted for infrequent attendance and minimal contribution to floor debates; Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (Sokoto South) listed among the less active members despite having sponsored some bills; and Aliyu Wammako (Sokoto North) who is cited for a lack of active participation in Senate proceedings.
A performance report released by OrderPaper Nigeria identified Oshiomhole as one of 15 senators who did not sponsor a single bill between June 2023 and May 2024. This lack of legislative output led to criticism regarding his effectiveness, as bill sponsorship is a primary metric for assessing a lawmaker’s performance.
Major reasons for the rating include zero bills introduction in first year. Oshiomhole was listed among the “do-nothing” senators for failing to introduce any legislation during his first year in office. Another reason for the low rating is with regard to constituency concerns. Critics from his senatorial district, particularly in Akoko-Edo and Owan, alleged a lack of tangible constituency projects and unfulfilled campaign promises during this initial period. He received the rating also because some observers argued that his performance was characterized more by vocal television appearances and political grandstanding than by legislative productivity.
Why emphasis on Oshiomhole
Senator Adams Oshiomhole, representing Edo North in the 10th National Assembly, is widely regarded as a highly active, vocal, and impactful legislator, leveraging his background as a former labor leader and state governor to influence national policy.
The heightened focus on Senator Adams Oshiomhole’s initial rating as a low-performing senator in the 10th Senate stemmed primarily from his outsized political reputation, high expectations, and combative, outspoken nature. As a former two-term governor and former national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the scrutiny applied to him was significantly higher than that of a first-time lawmaker, with critics and observers focusing on a perceived gap between his experience and early legislative output.
Unlike many new senators, Oshiomhole came into the 10th Senate with a track record of being a “no-nonsense” former governor known for rapid infrastructure development. His “Comrade” persona created expectations for high-energy advocacy and tangible results, leading to sharper criticism when initial legislative deliverables were perceived as lacking.
Oshiomhole is known for being vocal and unafraid of political battles. Critics often contrasted this high-profile, often abrasive, political style with the more subtle, diplomatic, and committee-focused work required in the Senate.
Oshiomhole’s political dominance in Edo North has made him a lightning rod for opposition attacks. Critics and political opponents used early performance ratings to challenge his continued relevance and to push for a change in representation, highlighting unmet promises.
His supporters viewed him as a “fearless advocate for the masses”, while detractors characterized him as an “abysmal failure” who prioritized “petulant and baleful politics”. This extreme polarization ensured that any rating—good or bad—received intense, disproportionate media attention.
Reports indicated that in the early stages, his actions were perceived as focusing more on political maneuvering within the party rather than substantive legislation or constituency projects.
This initial rating was heavily debated, with subsequent reports highlighting him as a “showstopper” in the Senate, bringing “substantive contributions” and, later winning awards for his performance in 2024–2025.
Within his first two years in office, he has distinguished himself through a combination of legislative advocacy on the Senate floor, high-level committee work, and constituency-focused development projects. Oshiomhole is seen as having established himself as a dominant and effective voice in the 10th Senate, focusing on a mix of national policy reform and tangible local development projects.
Background to low rating
Despite the accolades, Oshiomhole has also faced a lot of criticisms. Among his critics are John Mayaki (prominent APC member), Dan Osa-Ogbegie (legal practioner), Babs Daramola (public commentator), and Orobosa Omo-Ojo (former Commissioner under the senator).
In late 2025, despite criticizing the Senate leadership for acting as a “rubber-stamp” for the executive, noting that many bills are passed without proper debate or scrutiny, a OrderPaper report indicated he did not sponsor a bill during that initial period, though subsequent 2025 reports indicate he has since actively introduced legislation.
Besides, reports from OrderPaperNigeria and Parliament Reports in late 2024 criticized him and other Edo lawmakers for sponsoring zero bills in their first year, suggesting they were distracted by state gubernatorial campaigns. Besides, some of his constituents have slammed him with being a Rubber-Stamp, same tag Oshiomhole himself once criticized the Senate’s bill-passing process for, expressing that the chamber under current leadership can sometimes act as a “rubber-stamp” for the executive.
Constituents and political opponents also raised several points of underperformance regarding his local impact, including unfulfilled project promises. Certain groups within Edo North, particularly in Akoko-Edo and Owan, have claimed that tangible benefits and major projects have not reached their communities despite his tenure since 2023.
In addition, critics point to the continued perilous state of the Auchi-Benin road and a lack of basic amenities like water in some rural areas as evidence of ineffective representation. They also allege that his Grassroots Empowerment Programme has faced backlash for prioritizing cash handouts (₦100,000 gifts) over long-term structural development like schools and hospitals.
Worse still, some local APC youth leaders have publicly called for an account of over ₦2.5 billion in constituency funds, alleging a lack of transparency in how these resources were managed.
Exiting least performing rating
Following the initial criticism, Oshiomhole’s legislative activity increased. By mid-2025, he had sponsored several bills, including Federal Medical Centers Act (Amendment Bill, 2025) to establish a center in Edo North; Fire Rescue and Safety Services (Establishment) Bill, 2023; and Youth Empowerment and Employment Bill.
His legislative performance in the 10th Senate (2023–present) is today generally viewed as active, vocal, and focused on constituency development and national economic policy. As of early 2026, he is recognized for his role as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Interior and has been lauded for his efforts to influence national policy and represent Edo North.
Oshiomhole was named the 2025 Senator of the Year by THISDAY and Independent Newspapers for his contributions to the 10th National Assembly.
He has sponsored bills aimed at reforming labor laws, enhancing industrial safety, and improving public welfare. Notable legislative efforts include a bill to upgrade Auchi Polytechnic to a Federal University of Technology (passed first reading, July 2025) and a bill for the establishment of a Federal Medical Centre in Edo North (passed second reading, March 2025).
He is praised for bringing federal attention to infrastructure in Edo North, including road rehabilitation and school renovations.
In the performance of Oversight role, he is involved in high-stakes legislative panels, such as the 2025 Electoral Act review committee.
Overall, his supporters consider him a “fearless advocate” for the poor and a “political fumigant,” according to public analyst reviews.
As of March 2026, Senator Adams Oshiomhole’s legislative performance is characterized by high-profile awards and active participation in the 10th National Assembly, though formal independent scorecards show mixed results in bill productivity.
Aside of the THISDAY honour award as Senator of the Year in early 2025, winning against competitors like Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and Ali Ndume, he also received the Politician of the Year award from LEADERSHIP Newspapers in March 2026, cited for his leadership qualities and political influence.
Oshiomole was likewise awarded by Independent Newspapers as Independent Senator of the Year 2024 for his contributions to the legislative process.
Outside winning awards, he currently serves as a member of the high-stakes 7-man ad-hoc committee fine-tuning Electoral Act amendments as of January 2026. In February 2026, he was noted for his aggressive oversight during budget defenses, specifically challenging the Lagos–Calabar coastal highway project funding transparency.
In September 2025, he unveiled six major constituency projects for Edo North, including rural electrification and road rehabilitation, leading to the Edo North APC formally backing him for a second term in April 2025, citing his “unflinching commitment” to the district.
WorldStage gathered that though activity levels of legislators can vary throughout their tenure, with some senators focusing more on committee work, which is not always reflected in plenary debates, performance reports from monitoring organizations reveal a stark disparity in legislative output, with roughly 15 senators sponsoring zero bills and doing far little than expected by their constituencies.
