Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has strongly criticized the House of Representatives for rejecting the bill that proposed a six-year single term for Nigerian presidents and governors. Atiku, who was the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 elections, called the decision unfortunate and expressed disappointment at the lawmakers for failing to recognize the urgency of addressing Nigeria’s ongoing political and governance challenges.
The bill, which was sponsored by Ikenga Ugochinyere and 33 other legislators, was rejected by the House through a voice vote during the plenary session on Thursday. The proposal sought to introduce a single six-year term for elected officials, which would have meant that Nigerian presidents and governors would serve for six years without the possibility of re-election. The idea of a six-year single term had previously been rejected during former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.
Atiku, in reaction to the rejection, was represented by his media aide, Paul Ibe, who said that the former vice president had hoped the bill would help alleviate political distractions by encouraging elected officials to focus solely on governance. Ibe stressed that Atiku believed the six-year single term would strengthen democracy and governance by allowing presidents and governors more time to deliver on their mandates without the distraction of seeking re-election. Ibe further lamented, "So, it is sad that it was rejected, and we need to ensure that the laws we make promote the well-being of Nigerians and strengthen democracy in both word and deed. That is what this law was meant to do. Unfortunately, the House did not see this. It is unfortunate, and we hope that it is revisited, so they can realise that they have made a mistake.”
Ikenga Ugochinyere, the lead sponsor of the constitutional amendment bill proposing the six-year single term for the president and governors, expressed disappointment over the rejection of the bill. However, he affirmed that this was not the end of the campaign for the proposal, stating that the bill would be reintroduced. The proposed amendment also included measures to consolidate all elections on a single day and to establish a rotational presidency between Nigeria's Northern and Southern regions. Despite the setback, Ugochinyere emphasized that the rejection would not deter the efforts to bring about the desired changes. He assured that further consultations would be conducted before the bill is brought back for consideration. Ugochinyere stated, "The decision in the House does not mark the end of the campaign, and we are confident that our objectives will eventually be achieved."
