The House of Representatives has rejected a proposed bill seeking to introduce a six-year single rotational term for the offices of the President, State Governors, and Local Government Chairpersons. The decision was reached on Thursday through a voice vote, with the majority of lawmakers opposing the bill.
Sponsored by Honourable Ikeagwuonu Ugochinyere of Imo State and 33 others, the bill aimed to amend the 1999 Constitution to ensure elections for these positions are rotated between the North and South regions every six years. It also proposed simultaneous elections for the offices of President, Governors, National Assembly members, and State Houses of Assembly on a single day.
During the session, the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas introduced the bill, and Honourable Ugochinyere moved for its second reading. Despite claims that the bill would promote inclusive governance and curb the costs associated with periodic elections, the motion gained limited support among lawmakers.
When Abbas called for a voice vote, the majority of representatives voiced their opposition with a resounding “nay.” Consequently, the bill was rejected, effectively retaining Nigeria’s current four-year renewable term structure for elected officials.
This development reaffirms the continuity of the constitutional framework established in 1999, which has been the basis of Nigeria’s democratic elections since then. The blocked amendment reflects resistance to altering the nation’s political term limits and electoral processes.