The 34 members of the House of Representatives who sponsored a bill to amend the 1999 Constitution to establish a six-year single term for the president have decided to reintroduce the proposal following its rejection on November 21. Rep. Ikenga Ugochinyere (PDP-Imo), the lead sponsor of the bill, made this announcement in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday. Despite the bill’s failure during plenary, Ugochinyere expressed optimism that the push for electoral reforms was far from over.
The bill, which was first presented to the House, aimed to introduce a six-year single term for the president, governors, and local government chairmen. Additionally, the bill proposed a zonal rotation of presidential and governorship seats and called for all elections to be held on a single day. These provisions were designed to address various challenges in Nigeria’s electoral system, such as high costs and political instability.
While the bill was rejected during a plenary session, Rep. Ugochinyere emphasized that the setback should not be seen as the end of efforts to reform Nigeria’s constitutional democracy. “The struggle to reform our constitutional democracy to be all-inclusive and provide an avenue for justice, equity, and fairness has not been lost,” Ugochinyere stated, underscoring the continued relevance of the bill’s objectives.
In his statement, Ugochinyere also assured Nigerians that the rejection would not dampen the resolve to push for the changes outlined in the proposal. “The decision on the floor of the house yesterday (Thursday) not to allow the bill for six-year single tenure and all elections to hold in one day will not end the agitation,” he said. He added that there would be further consultations to review the bill and explore alternative ways to reintroduce it.
The lawmaker referred to the rejection of the bill as a temporary setback, stressing that it would not alter the broader campaign for an inclusive and democratic political process. “We are going to review this decision and find possible ways of reintroducing it after, following due legislative procedures,” Ugochinyere explained. He reaffirmed the commitment to continuing advocacy efforts and working with colleagues to gain their support for the reforms.
Rep. Ugochinyere went on to highlight the potential benefits of the proposed reforms, particularly the suggestion to hold all elections on a single day. “If elections are held in one day, it will reduce cost and rigging,” he said, pointing out that such a change could lead to a more efficient and less corrupt electoral process.
On the issue of rotational power, Ugochinyere argued that zonal rotation of key political positions would help alleviate political tensions across the country. He also championed the proposal for a six-year single term, stating that it would allow elected leaders to focus more effectively on delivering their mandates. “A six-year single term will go a long way in helping elective leaders to focus on delivering their democratic mandate,” Ugochinyere concluded.
