Senator Adams Oshiomhole, representing Edo North, has explained why he no longer wears his trademark khaki outfits to plenary sessions of the National Assembly.
The former Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) president, who became known nationwide for his khaki attire during his years as a labour leader and later as governor of Edo State, said the strict dress code of the Senate forced him to abandon it.
Speaking on Arise Television’s Morning Show on Friday, Oshiomhole revealed that he had been warned on several occasions that the upper chamber was not the place for his signature look.
“Do you know that I am not allowed, with all my human rights? I don’t have the right to wear khaki to the Senate because they have a dress code. I was warned several times: ‘Please, this is not the labour office,’” he said.
Oshiomhole dismissed suggestions that his change of dress was a reflection of political transformation or power influence. Instead, he insisted it was a matter of following Senate regulations.
“I watched an analysis where someone said, ‘Even Oshiomhole, power has changed him—he no longer wears khaki.’ But it is not about power. It is simply because the Senate has its own rules, and as a senator, I must comply,” he clarified.
The senator’s comments come amid ongoing debates about image, identity, and the symbolism of political attire in Nigeria’s public life.
