Lawmakers seek single tenure for president, governors on rotational basis

Admin I Monday, June 10, 2024

ABUJA, Nigeria – Lawmaker representing Ideato Federal Constituency, Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere and 36 others have put forward a bill seeking a single tenure of 6 years for the President and governors in Nigeria, which shall be rotated among the six geo political zones and Senatorial zones for governors.

The seeks to amend the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria  has passed the first reading and it  the period which any individual can serve as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Governor of State from two terms of 4 years each, to a single 6 year tenure in addition to rotational Presidency and Governorship.

The bill, which has passed the first reading, is also seeking that all elections must be conducted in one day, conclusion of all pre election matters before election , resolutions of all post-election matters before swearing in and mandatory results transmission, among others.

The Bill sponsored by 35 lawmakers also seeks an amendment for rotation of the Presidency across the six geopolitical zones in the country.

Giving more insight on the content of the bill Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere said that the sole intent of this bill is to enact legislation that will make provisions for single term of 6 yrs ,the rotation of political power amongst the geo-political zones, for Presidency, and Senatorial zones for the governorship in the general elections plus conducting all elections in one day to save cost and ensure higher voters turnout and election credibility

He lamented that Nigeria is among several countries in Africa confronted by threats of political instability and social conflicts, hence the situation led to political actors in the country to canvas for the adoption of rotational and single tenure presidency as a potent political arrangement that can guarantee stability.

Ugochinyere called for support for the bill, saying that Nigeria should emulate Mexico as they practices a presidential system of government like Nigeria, but with a single-term presidency of six years.

The lawmakers believe this will ensure equal representation, national stability, and inclusion of all regions in the country. The bill will also help reduce government spending and wastage on elections and achieve efficiency in governance since elected leaders will not be derailed or distracted by reelection agendas.

According to him, a very important aspect of this bill is that it will also ensure that the Constitution recognizes the division of Nigeria into six geopolitical zones, and for the position of the Presidency, the rotation of power between the North and the South shall be clearly done amongst the six-geopolitical zones to ensure that no zone is left out in six successions.

“Another critical bill by the group of lawmakers is the bill to amend the relevant sections of the Electoral Act to ensure that all elections (presidential, governorship, National Assembly, state houses of Assembly, and local governments) are held on the same day”, he said.

Ugochinyere stated  that elections remain the only democratic means of bringing back sanity into the system.