The House of Representatives has on Thursday voted down a bill that proposed a six-year single term for the offices of President and state governors.
The bill, sponsored by Ikenga Ugochinyere, was meant to amend the Constitution and included provisions for the rotation of leadership among Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, as well as scheduling all national elections on a single day.
This marks the second consecutive time such a proposal has been rejected in the House, having previously been put forth by John Dyegh in 2019, which also failed to progress.
Recall Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar previously advocated for amendments to the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act to embrace a six-year term.
Atiku advocated for amendments to the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act to embrace a six-year term, coupled with mandatory electronic voting and candidate verification by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Atiku Dyegh’s earlier proposal sought to implement a single six-year term for Members of the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly, arguing that longer terms would allow legislators to gain valuable experience and reduce the financial burden and violence associated with re-elections.
He asserted that the costs incurred during re-election campaigns often eclipsed those of initial elections, contributing to electoral tension and irregularities.
The concept of a single term for elected officials has gained some traction among Nigerian political figures.
During the second reading of the bill, a majority of lawmakers expressed opposition, resulting in the bill’s failure to advance.
Despite the support from various political figures and the public discourse surrounding the need for electoral reform, the recent rejection of the bill indicates persistent challenges in altering the existing political structure in Nigeria.
