The Nigerian House of Representatives has rejected a proposed constitutional amendment aimed at instituting a single six-year term for the president, governors, and local government chairmen across the country. The bill, sponsored by Ikenga Ugochinyere (PDP, Imo) and 33 co-sponsors, also sought to introduce a rotational system for the presidency and governorship within six geopolitical zones.
The bill, which aimed to amend key sections of the 1999 Constitution, proposed that presidential and gubernatorial elections be held on a single day, simultaneously across the nation. It sought to amend provisions in Sections 76, 116, 132, and 136, including changing the term limit for the president and governors from four to six years.
One of the bill’s major provisions proposed rotating the presidency between the North and South every six years, with further rotations within the three geopolitical zones of each region.
In addition, the bill called for significant changes in the structure of governance, including a new provision that would require governors to submit a mid-term performance report to their state Houses of Assembly at the end of the third year of their term. This report would determine whether they could continue in office for the remainder of the term.
However, the proposed bill was rejected by lawmakers, who declined to allow the sponsor to lead the debate. The decision marks a significant setback for the proponents of the amendment, which sought to introduce major changes to Nigeria’s political landscape.
