Honourable Ikenga Ugochinyere of the Federal House of Representative sponsored a bill that sought to create a six-year term, ensure the rotation of leadership positions among Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, and mandate all elections to be conducted on the same day.
However, the bill failed at its second reading in the house of Representative and this is the second time that such a bill is failing
A similar bill in 2019, introduced by Honourable John Dyegh of Benue State, also failed to progress past the second reading. That bill extended its scope to include a six-year term for legislators, arguing that extended terms would reduce election violence, lower costs, and provide lawmakers with more experience.
Prominent political figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Anambra State Governor Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, have expressed support for single-term limits in the past, citing benefits such as curbing election irregularities and fostering governance free of re-election pressures.
Despite the ongoing debate, the House’s decision highlights the challenge of building consensus on constitutional reforms aimed at overhauling Nigeria’s electoral framework.
