Six-Year Single Term Proposal for President, Governors Rejected by House of Reps

The House of Representatives has voted against a proposal seeking a six-year single term for the President and Governors in Nigeria. 

A bill proposed to limit the president and governors to a single 6-year term has been turned down by the House of Representatives.

The bill, backed by Ikenga Ugochinyere and 33 additional supporters, was discussed on Thursday before being turned down by the lawmakers.

The recently rejected constitutional amendment bill aimed to modify the 1999 constitution by shortening lawmakers’ tenures, implementing zonal rotation for presidential and governorship positions, and conducting all elections on a single day.

The amendments proposed by the Bill aim to promote inclusive governance and reduce waste resulting from elections held every four years.

READ ALSO: House of Reps Proposes N500bn Capital Base for Electricity DisCos

The Bill aims to modify Section 76 of the Principal Act by adding a new Sub-section (3) that states:

(3) In reference to Section (1), elections for the positions of President, Governors, National Assembly members, and State Houses of Assembly will be conducted concurrently on a date set by the Independent National Electoral Commission in collaboration with the National Assembly and following the guidelines outlined in the Electoral Act.

The Speaker, who led the plenary session, called for a voice vote on the Bill, and it was defeated by those opposing it.

remembers that the same bill was proposed during the Jonathan administration but was similarly rejected.