Atiku Abubakar, the 2023 presidential candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party, condemned the House of Representatives on Thursday for rejecting a bill that sought to establish a six-year single term for the President and governors.
The legislation, introduced by Ikenga Ugochinyere, a member representing the Ideato North/Ideato South Federal Constituency in Imo State, along with 33 co-sponsors, was dismissed during a voice vote in the plenary session on Thursday.
Last October, Atiku submitted a letter to the National Assembly advocating for a constitutional amendment to implement a six-year single term for both the President and state governors. In his memorandum to the Senate Committee on Constitutional Review, he also proposed that the presidency rotate between the northern and southern regions of Nigeria.
In response to the rejection of this proposal by the House, Atiku’s Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, expressed disappointment during an interview, stating that lawmakers failed to grasp Nigeria’s crucial juncture.
“It’s unfortunate,” Ibe remarked. “They seem not to understand that Nigeria is at a critical crossroads.”
He highlighted that the proposed amendment could have been pivotal in strengthening governance by allowing elected officials a full six-year term to concentrate solely on their roles, free from the pressures of campaigning for re-election. Ibe stressed, “This would have enabled officials to prioritize governance over political distractions.”
He further lamented, “It’s regrettable that the bill was turned down. We need laws that genuinely advance the interests of Nigerians and bolster democracy in both principle and practice. Sadly, the House did not recognize this, and we hope they reconsider their decision, realizing that their refusal was misguided.”
The proposed legislation aimed to amend sections 76, 116, 132, and 136 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). Its overarching goal was to promote inclusive governance and reduce the inefficiencies associated with frequent four-year electoral cycles.
Key proposals included rotating the presidency between the North and South every six years and synchronizing elections for the President, governors, and members of the National Assembly and state legislatures to occur on the same date, as determined by the Independent National Electoral Commission in consultation with the National Assembly and according to the Electoral Act.
The bill also outlined provisions for a situation where a president-elect passes away before taking the oath of office, stipulating that the First Vice President would assume the presidency and appoint a new Vice President with the National Assembly’s approval.
Additionally, it noted that individuals who have been sworn in as governors to complete another’s term would not be eligible for election to that office for a subsequent term.
However, when the bill was brought to the floor for discussion on Thursday, it faced overwhelming rejection from the lawmakers, as called by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas.
