Senate Moves to End Two-Term Presidency, Proposes Single Six-Year Tenure for President, Governors

The Nigerian Senate is preparing a major constitutional overhaul that could reshape the country’s political structure, with a proposal for a single six-year term for the President and state governors.

Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, disclosed that a new bill seeking to abolish the current two-term system will be introduced after the 2027 general elections.

According to him, the proposed legislation is designed to replace the existing arrangement, which allows elected leaders to serve up to two four-year terms, with a one-time six-year tenure.

Bamidele explained that the reform is intended to reduce the intense focus on re-election campaigns, which he argued often distracts officeholders from governance.

He said under the proposed system, leaders would serve a single term and concentrate fully on delivering results without the pressure of seeking a second mandate.

“The idea is to ensure that once elected, leaders focus entirely on governance rather than political survival,” he was quoted as saying, adding that the absence of a second-term ambition would encourage more decisive leadership.

The Senate Leader also acknowledged that the proposal may generate debate across political circles but maintained that legislative innovation is necessary as governance challenges evolve.

He stressed that lawmakers have a responsibility to propose reforms they believe will strengthen democratic institutions, even if such ideas are controversial.

If the bill scales through legislative approval, it will require a constitutional amendment before it can take effect, meaning it must be passed by the National Assembly and ratified by a majority of state assemblies.

The proposal is expected to trigger nationwide political discussion, especially given Nigeria’s long-standing adherence to the two-term executive system under the 1999 Constitution.