On a recent session, senators in the upper chamber declared that the Senate President position for the forthcoming 11th National Assembly is not vacant, confirming incumbent Senator [Godswill Akpabio](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godswill_Akpabio) as the holder of the office. The motion, introduced by Senator Tahir Monguno and seconded by Senator Cyril Fasuyi (Ekiti North), was passed early to pre‑empt any political maneuvering ahead of the Assembly’s inauguration.
**What did the motion state?**
The resolution explicitly affirmed that the seat of the Senate President is already occupied and therefore not open to contest. It also extended the endorsement to Deputy Senate President [Barau Jibrin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barau_Jibrin) and other principal officers, signalling a unified desire to retain the current leadership structure.
**How did Senator Akpabio react?**
Senator Akpabio said, “I hereby support the motion ably moved by Senator Monguno that the seat of the Senate President in the 11th Assembly is not open to any contest. It is already occupied by Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio.” He added that with the presidential and vice‑presidential contests concluded, attention naturally shifts to the legislature, noting, “I know the position of president is gone, the position of vice president is gone, the only one that is left now is the position of Senate President. So, everybody will want to contest that.”
**What about the formal election of presiding officers?**
While the declaration shows strong political backing, the official election of Senate officers will still follow the statutory legislative procedures once the 11th Assembly is formally constituted.
**What warnings were issued to the media?**
Senator Akpabio cautioned commentators, television analysts and panelists against extracting floor debates out of context to score political points or tarnish reputations. He urged that media should assess final Senate resolutions rather than isolated, heated exchanges during debates.
**How did the Senate address the suicide law debate controversy?**
Lawmakers emphasized that vigorous debate is a hallmark of lawmaking and warned against misinterpreting discussions on reviewing the decriminalisation of suicide as religious or ideological attacks. Akpabio rejected any link between terrorism and faith, stating, “Terrorists are not Muslims. Terrorists are not Christians. Terrorists are human beings who believe in taking their lives and the lives of others.” He clarified that the legislative intent is to distinguish between acts of terror and mental‑health‑related self‑destruction, reaffirming that major faiths, including Islam, strictly forbid suicide and the taking of innocent lives. A fellow senator cited Surah An‑Nisa (4:29) of the Qur’an to underscore Islam’s prohibition of self‑destruction and unlawful killing.
**Why does this matter for Nigeria?**
The senators stressed that robust debate inside the chamber reflects an active democracy and warned that misinterpretations could fuel religious or political division across the nation.