11th Senate: Lawmaker Proposes Six-Year Single Term for President, Governors

Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele has announced plans to sponsor a bill seeking to introduce a single six-year tenure for the President and state governors after the 2027 general elections.

The Leader of the Senate, Opeyemi Bamidele, has disclosed his intention to sponsor a constitutional amendment bill proposing a single six-year term for the offices of the President and State Governors.

The proposed legislation is targeted at taking effect after the 2027 general elections and is expected to be one of the first major bills introduced when the 11th Senate is inaugurated.

Speaking during an interview with journalists in his office on Tuesday, Bamidele explained that the move is aimed at enabling elected executive leaders to concentrate fully on governance rather than being distracted by the pressures of re-election campaigns.

Under the current constitutional arrangement, the President and governors are allowed to serve a maximum of two four-year terms. However, the Senate Leader argued that this system frequently forces public officeholders to dedicate a substantial part of their first term to political calculations and preparations for a second term.

“One of the first set of bills that I look forward to moving, by God's grace, when we come back for the 11th Senate, God willing, is for a bill that will only make it possible for anyone who wants to be president of this country, or governor in any part of this country, to spend only one term of six years,” Bamidele stated.

He emphasised that implementing a single tenure would effectively eliminate the administrative distractions and political tensions typically associated with second-term ambitions.

The debate over a single six-year term has been a recurring issue in Nigeria's political landscape, with proponents arguing that it would reduce the massive cost of periodic elections, curb political violence, and ensure that leaders deliver on their mandates without the anxiety of seeking re-election.

As the nation prepares for the 2027 general elections and the subsequent inauguration of the 11th National Assembly, the proposed bill is expected to spark significant public discourse and robust legislative debate among political stakeholders across the country.