Reps Reject Six-Year Single Tenure Bill Presidency

The House of Representatives on Thursday voted against a proposed bill seeking to amend the 1999 Constitution to introduce a single six-year tenure for the President, state governors, and area council chairmen.

Sponsored by Ikenga Ugochinyere, who represents Ideato North/Ideato South Federal Constituency of Imo State, alongside 33 co-sponsors, the bill also aimed to rotate the presidency between Nigeria’s North and South and mandate the rotation of governorship among the three senatorial districts within each state.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the legislation sought to amend Sections 76, 116, 132, and 136 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). According to the bill’s proponents, the proposed changes were intended to promote inclusive governance and reduce the costs associated with four-year electoral cycles.

Highlights of the bill included:

Presidential Rotation: Amending Section 132 to mandate a six-year rotational presidency between the North and South.

Simultaneous Elections: Introducing a new subsection to Section 76 to ensure elections for the presidency, governorship, National Assembly, and state Houses of Assembly occur on the same day, as determined by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Succession Clause: Provisions for the First Vice President to assume the presidency if the President-elect dies or cannot take the oath of office, with the Vice President nominating a replacement subject to National Assembly approval.

However, when the bill was put to a voice vote during the plenary presided over by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, it was rejected by the majority of lawmakers.

This development halts discussions on the proposed tenure and rotational reforms, reflecting the lawmakers’ reluctance to make significant structural changes to Nigeria’s governance framework.

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