A bill proposing a six-year single term for the office of the president and state governors has failed to pass in the House of Representatives.
The bill, introduced by Honourable Ikenga Ugochinyere, sought to amend the Constitution to establish a single six-year term for the president and state governors, and to introduce a rotational system for these offices, as well as for local government chairmanships, among Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. It also aimed to consolidate all elections into one day.
However, when the bill was put to a vote during its scheduled second reading, it was rejected by lawmakers.
This marks the second time the House has turned down a bill proposing a six-year single term for the presidency and governors. In 2019, a similar bill sponsored by John Dyegh from Benue State also failed to pass the second reading. Dyegh’s version included a provision for National Assembly and State Assembly members to serve a six-year term, arguing that longer terms would allow lawmakers to gain more experience and reduce the cost and violence associated with re-elections. He also proposed a five-year single term to curb electoral irregularities.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has previously suggested a constitutional amendment to introduce a six-year single term for the presidency, as well as for each of the six geopolitical zones. Atiku’s proposal included provisions for mandatory electronic voting, verification of candidates’ credentials by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and other electoral reforms.
In June of this year, Anambra State Governor Prof. Chukwuma Soludo also expressed support for a single-term proposal for elected officials, arguing that it would allow leaders to focus on governance without the distraction of re-election campaigns.
Despite these calls, the bill to introduce a single six-year term for Nigeria’s political leaders has once again failed to gain approval in the House.