The House of Representatives has rejected a proposed bill seeking to limit the tenure of Nigeria’s President and Governors to a single term of six years.
Sponsored by Ikenga Ugochinyere alongside 33 co-sponsors, the bill was debated during Thursday’s plenary session but ultimately failed to secure the support of lawmakers.
The constitution alteration bill aimed to amend the 1999 Constitution to streamline governance by reducing the tenure of lawmakers and introducing a zonal rotation for presidential and governorship seats.
It also sought to synchronise all elections by holding them on the same day.
One of the bill’s key proposals was to amend Section 76 of the Principal Act by introducing a new Sub-section (3), which states, “(3) 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.”
Supporters of the bill argued that it would promote inclusive governance, reduce election-related costs, and eliminate waste caused by frequent electoral cycles.
However, after debate, the Speaker, who presided over the session, subjected the proposal to a voice vote, and the nays prevailed.
This is not the first time a similar proposal has been introduced. A comparable bill was presented during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan but was also rejected.
The consistent opposition to the idea reflects lawmakers’ reluctance to alter Nigeria’s existing political structure and electoral timeline significantly.
