House of Representatives Rejects Bill Proposing Single Six-Year Tenure for President and Governors

 

A bill proposing a single six-year tenure for the President and state governors has been rejected by the House of Representatives.

Sponsored by Ikenga Ugochinyere and 33 other lawmakers, the bill was debated during Thursday’s plenary session but failed to garner the support needed to advance.

The proposed legislation sought to amend the 1999 Constitution to introduce a single-term tenure for the President and governors. It also advocated for zonal rotation of these positions and the simultaneous holding of elections for all political offices on a single day.

One of the bill’s primary objectives was to promote inclusive governance while reducing the financial and administrative costs associated with Nigeria’s current four-year election cycle.

As part of its provisions, the bill proposed amending Section 76 of the Constitution to include a new subsection mandating the simultaneous conduct of elections. The newly proposed subsection read:
“For the purposes of Section (1) of this section, all elections into the offices of President, Governors, National Assembly, and State Houses of Assembly shall hold simultaneously on the same date to be determined by the Independent National Electoral Commission in consultation with the National Assembly and in accordance with the Electoral Act.”

However, when the Speaker put the bill to a voice vote during the session, opposition to the proposal was more vocal, leading to its rejection.

This development highlights the complexity of constitutional amendments in Nigeria, where proposed changes often face significant scrutiny and resistance in the legislative process.