Reps Vote Against Bill Seeking Six-Year Single Term For President, Governors

A Bill for an Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution to create a single term of six years for the office of president and state governors has failed in the House of Representatives

The bill sponsored by Honourable Ikenga Ugochinyere sought to recognize the division of Nigeria into the six geopolitical zones, provide for the rotation of the office of president, state governor and chairmen of a local government councils among the Inherent regions and zones.

The bill also sought to make it possible for all elections in the country to be held on a single day.

When the bill which was scheduled for second reading was put to vote, majority of the lawmakers voted against it.

This is not the first time the House will reject a bill seeking a six-year single term for president and governors.

In 2019, the bill was then sponsored by John Dyegh from Benue State.

Dyegh’s bill had also considered a six-year term for Members of the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly.

He argued that the bill was necessary for members of the National Assembly to gain more experience in six years instead of four.

According to him, re-election for the President and Governors cost three times more than the first election and is characterized by violence. He believes a single term of five years will curb the irregularities associated with re-election.

“Sometimes, these conversations about single term might begin to make some sense so that you fix it, whether you say four years or five years, six years, seven years, single term,” Soludo said.

“So, you are not thinking about the next election once you finish getting into this. I face that all day in my state. You want to get into this (project), they say, ‘No, wait, you know you have an election’. And I say, ‘No, let’s get it, if we get there, we get there and if we lose, we lose.” (Channels)