Recent developments within the National Assembly, ranging from political appointments to tribunal judgments, have altered the membership of the Senate and House of Representatives. On October 18, President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio appointed new Principal Officers for the Senate. Senator Lola Ashiru (APC; Kwara) was appointed as Deputy Majority Leader of the Senate. He replaces Senator David Umahi who held the position until he was appointed a Minister by President Tinubu. Senator Ashiru who formerly held the position of Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate was replaced by Senator Peter Nwebonyi (APC; Ebonyi).
The outcome of election petitions that trailed the 2023 general elections have also affected the membership of the Senate, as the Court of Appeal has delivered judgements nullifying the elections of some Senators. According to section 246(3) of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution, the decision of the Court of Appeal in respect of appeals on National and State Houses of Assembly election petitions shall be final. One of the affected Senators is the Minority Leader of the Senate, Simon Mwadkon. The Appeal Court held that Mwadkon was not validly nominated by his party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and ordered the conduct of fresh elections in Plateau North Senatorial District within 90 days. The Court of Appeal also nullified the election of another legislator, Senator Elisha Abbo (APC; Adamawa). The court declared Amos Yohanna, candidate of the PDP as rightful winner of the Adamawa North Senatorial District election. Yohanna was sworn in by the Deputy President of the Senate, Jibrin Barau at plenary on October 25. Meanwhile, the seats of Senator David Umahi and Senator Ibrahim Geidam who was also appointed as a Minister by President Tinubu, are yet to be declared vacant.
On Tuesday, October 31, the Court of Appeal nullified the election of Senator Abubakar Ohere (Kogi; APC) and affirmed the decision of the National and State House of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal in Kogi State, which declared Natasha Akpoti of the PDP as the rightful winner of the Kogi Central Senatorial District election. Also, on Wednesday, November 1, the Court of Appeal reversed the tribunal judgment that declared former Benue State Governor, Senator Gabriel Suswam as winner of the Benue North Senatorial District election and reinstated the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Emmanuel Udende as the rightful winner of the election.
In the House of Representatives, the Court of Appeal nullified the election of Rep. Jingi Rufai (Adamawa; PDP) and declared the candidate of the APC, Jaafar Magaji as winner of the election. The Court of Appeal also nullified the election of Rep. Isaac Kwalu (Plateau; PDP) and declared the APC candidate, John Dafa’an as winner of the election. In the same vein, the Court of Appeal also nullified the election of Rep. Musa Agah Avia (Plateau; PDP).