Senate Leader Moves for One-Term Six-Year Presidency

By Paul Joseph

A major constitutional proposal is taking shape in the National Assembly that could fundamentally reshape Nigeria’s political structure, as Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele signals plans to push a single six-year tenure for presidents and state governors.

Bamidele on Tuesday disclosed that the proposed constitutional amendment bill would be among his priority legislative initiatives if lawmakers return for another term after the 2027 elections.

Under the proposal, Nigeria’s current two-term, four-year electoral cycle would be replaced with a single, non-renewable six-year tenure for both the President and state governors.

According to him, the objective is to reduce the recurring pressure of re-election campaigns and allow elected leaders to focus more on governance and long-term policy execution.

“One of the first set of bills that I look forward to moving when we come back for the 11th Senate is a bill that makes it possible for anyone who wants to be president or governor to spend only one term of six years,” Bamidele said.

The proposal, however, would require a far-reaching amendment to the 1999 Constitution. Such a change would need approval by two-thirds of members of both chambers of the National Assembly, as well as ratification by at least two-thirds of the 36 state Houses of Assembly before it can become law.

While the idea of a single-term presidency is not new in Nigeria’s political debate, it has repeatedly sparked sharp divisions among stakeholders. Proponents argue that a one-term structure could reduce the intensity of electoral politics, curb campaign spending, and allow leaders to focus on governance rather than political survival.

Critics, however, warn that removing the possibility of re-election could weaken democratic accountability, arguing that leaders may feel less pressured to perform if they are not seeking voter approval for a second term.

If eventually adopted, the amendment would mark one of the most significant shifts in Nigeria’s democratic framework since the return to civilian rule in 1999, effectively ending the existing maximum eight-year tenure system for top executive offices.