A proposal by Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, to introduce a single six-year tenure for Nigeria’s president and state governors has drawn sharp criticism from public affairs analysts and citizens, who described the move as a misplaced priority amid pressing national challenges.
Bamidele had on Monday unveiled plans to sponsor a constitutional amendment bill seeking to replace the current two-term, four-year tenure system with a single, non-renewable six-year term. He said the bill would form part of his legislative agenda when lawmakers reconvene after the 2027 general elections.
According to him, the proposal is aimed at curbing the distractions associated with re-election campaigns and enabling elected officials to focus squarely on governance.
“If you know you are there for six years, only one tenure, you put in your best from day one,” Bamidele stated, arguing that the current structure compels leaders to spend a significant portion of their first term strategising for a second mandate.
However, the proposal has triggered widespread debate, with many Nigerians expressing doubts over its relevance to the country’s governance challenges.
Speaking on Frontline, a public affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM in Ogun State, a political analyst, Bayo Ayanga, said the idea was not novel, recalling a similar proposal by former President, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.
Ayanga noted that Jonathan had, around 2012 and 2013, advocated a single five-year tenure, citing the political tension generated by second-term ambitions.
“The idea is not new. The former president had argued that the drive for re-election often creates unnecessary political upheaval and distracts from governance,” Ayanga said.
Despite acknowledging the rationale behind the proposal, callers who featured on the programme overwhelmingly rejected it, insisting that Nigeria’s problems stem from poor leadership, weak accountability and ineffective policy implementation—not tenure length.
A caller from Ago-Iwoye, AbdulWasiu, described the proposal as an “unnecessary distraction,” stressing that four years is sufficient for any serious leader to deliver meaningful results.
He cited former governors such as Olabisi Onabanjo, Lateef Jakande, Bola Ige, and Ambrose Alli as examples of leaders who made significant impacts within a single term.
“For me, it is just to divert attention. Four years is enough for any committed leader to perform,” he said, urging lawmakers to focus on insecurity and governance deficits.
Another caller, Prince Suleiman Hassan, also faulted the proposal, describing it as an attempt to shift public discourse away from issues directly affecting citizens’ welfare.
“It is a distraction. Nigerians are expecting policies that will improve living conditions, not constitutional debates that do not address their immediate needs,” he said.
Similarly, a caller identified as Oscar from Ijebu-Ode argued that the country’s democratic shortcomings are rooted in the disconnect between leaders and the governed.
According to him, many public policies fail because political office holders do not experience their impact firsthand, thereby weakening accountability.
“Whether it is one tenure or multiple terms, it will not change anything unless leaders are held accountable,” he said.
The Senate Leader had also disclosed that the proposed reform forms part of a broader legislative package, including measures to compel the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission to publicly disclose the earnings of public officials.
While Bamidele acknowledged that the proposal reflects his personal conviction and could face
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