Thirty-four members of the House of Representatives who sponsored a bill advocating a six-year single term for the President, governors, and local government chairmen have expressed optimism despite the bill’s rejection during plenary on Thursday. The proposal also included provisions for zonal rotation of presidential and governorship seats and the simultaneous conduct of all elections on a single day.
Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, the bill’s lead sponsor and representative of Ideato North/South Federal Constituency, described the setback as temporary, affirming the group’s commitment to reintroducing the proposal through further legislative processes.
“The rejection today does not end our advocacy for constitutional reforms aimed at fostering inclusivity, justice, and equity in governance,” Ugochinyere stated.
He outlined plans to review the decision and work towards convincing colleagues of the benefits of the reforms, emphasizing their potential to improve governance and reduce electoral costs and malpractices.
According to Ugochinyere, holding elections on the same day would reduce costs and curtail rigging, while rotational power would address regional political tensions. A six-year single term, he argued, would enable leaders to focus on governance rather than election campaigns.
“This is only a temporary setback. We will explore legislative options to reintroduce the bill and continue consultations with our colleagues. If elections are held in one day, it will save costs and prevent manipulation. Rotational power-sharing will de-escalate political tensions, and a six-year single term will allow leaders to focus on fulfilling their democratic mandates,” he explained.
The sponsors expressed confidence in eventually winning the necessary support for the bill, reiterating their dedication to advocating for these reforms in the interest of national progress.
