Senate Leader Pushes Six-Year Single Term for Presidents, Governors

Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele has unveiled plans to champion a constitutional amendment that would introduce a single six-year tenure for Nigeria’s presidents and state governors, arguing that the change would help leaders concentrate fully on governance rather than electoral calculations.

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Speaking with journalists on Tuesday, the lawmaker said the proposal ranks among the key legislative initiatives he hopes to pursue in the Senate after the 2027 general elections. 

According to him, the current two-term arrangement often shifts the attention of elected officials away from governance long before their first mandate expires.

Nigeria’s existing constitutional framework allows presidents and governors to serve a maximum of two four-year terms. 

However, Bamidele maintained that many officeholders begin preparing for re-election campaigns midway through their first tenure, a situation he believes affects policy implementation and administrative focus.

He said a single six-year term would create an environment where leaders can devote their entire period in office to delivering results. 

“Public officials should be able to focus on the responsibilities entrusted to them without the constant pressure of political survival,” he said.

Bamidele argued that removing the prospect of a second-term campaign would encourage leaders to pursue long-term development goals from the beginning of their administration. 

He added that a fixed six-year tenure would provide a clearer timeline for executing programmes and reforms.

Furthermore, the Senate leader acknowledged that the proposal could generate significant debate across the political landscape. 

Nevertheless, he insisted that lawmakers have a duty to continually review existing laws and explore reforms that could strengthen governance and democratic institutions.

“Constitutional provisions are not meant to remain unchanged forever. Parliament exists to assess national realities and make adjustments where necessary to improve the system,” he stated.

The proposal is expected to revive discussions that have surfaced repeatedly since Nigeria returned to democratic rule in 1999. 

Advocates of a single tenure system have long argued that it could reduce the distractions associated with re-election campaigns and allow governments to concentrate on policy delivery.

Support for the idea has also emerged from other political figures. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar previously advocated a six-year single term for presidents and governors as part of broader constitutional reforms. 

He also proposed a rotational presidency among Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

Despite the backing from some quarters, critics remain unconvinced. 

Opponents argue that the current two-term structure gives citizens the opportunity to either renew the mandate of performing leaders or remove underperforming ones through the ballot box.

Should the proposed legislation eventually secure approval from the National Assembly, it would require extensive amendments to the 1999 Constitution. 

The changes would also need endorsement from at least two-thirds of Nigeria’s state Houses of Assembly before becoming law.