Here’s What The Law Says About Impeaching Nigeria’s Senate President
In his five months as Nigeria’s third-ranking official, Goodwin Akpabio, the Senate President of the 10th Assembly, has faced confrontations with some colleagues who have questioned his handling of issues in the Senate.
In early October, Ali Ndume, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the senator representing Borno South Senatorial District, accused Akpabio of not following due process in passing sensitive bills.
“Very sensitive bills are brought and are expected to be passed with the speed of light, which is not good for the country. Sir, you are on the seat today; history will judge you that things like this are not good for this country,” he said during a plenary session.
Just a month afterward, on November 21, 2023, an opposition Senator, Tony Nwoye of the Labour Party representing Anambra North, accused Akpabio of imposing the leadership of the house on the Senate.
”How can you be choosing minority leaders for us? Are we your slaves?” Nwoye questioned.
The Nigerian Senate erupted into a rowdy session after Godswill Akpabio announced the appointment of Senator Abba Moro as the new Minority Leader.
The confrontation has sparked a conversation that aggrieved senators might begin possible plans for the impeachment of the Senate President.
It will not be the first time the Red Chamber is witnessing a conflict with its leadership. In 2018, former Senate President Bukola Saraki faced impeachment attempts from the opposition, particularly from Ali Ndume, who accused him of personalising the Senate. Although efforts to impeach Saraki were not successful, some Nigerian Senate presidents have been successfully removed by their colleagues.
In 1999, when Nigeria returned to democracy, the first Senate President of the Fourth Republic, Evan Enwerem, was removed from office six months into his tenure for alleged perjury and age falsification. Enwerem’s successor, Chuba Okadigbo, who spearheaded the removal of Enwere, was later removed from office over allegations of corruption.
However, in the APC-controlled Senate, with 59 Senators, removing the Senate president might prove difficult.
According to session 50 (2c) of the Nigerian Constitution, as amended, the “President of the Senate shall vacate his office if he is removed from office by a resolution of the Senate by the votes of not less than two-thirds majority of the members of that House.”
For any impeachment of Akpabio to be valid, at least 72 Senators need to vote against him.
