Ex-Presidential Candidate Rejects Single-Term Presidency, Warns Six Years Without Checks Could Fuel Corruption

A fresh debate over the tenure of Nigeria’s President and state governors has emerged following a proposal by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele to replace the current renewable four-year tenure with a single six-year term.

Bamidele has disclosed plans to sponsor a constitutional amendment bill in the 11th National Assembly after the 2027 general elections. He argued that the existing system often causes elected officials to divert significant attention to preparations for a second term before completing their first mandate.

According to Bamidele, a single six-year tenure would give presidents and governors more time to concentrate on governance without the pressure of seeking re-election. He maintained that officials could devote their full attention to implementing policies and delivering on their mandates from the beginning of their tenure.

Nigeria currently operates a system that allows the President and governors to serve two four-year terms, subject to re-election. Bamidele’s proposal would therefore represent a significant constitutional change if it is eventually introduced, approved and enacted.

The proposal is not the first attempt to alter executive tenure in Nigeria. Similar constitutional amendment efforts have emerged in previous years. In November 2024, the House of Representatives rejected a proposal seeking a single six-year presidential term, alongside provisions concerning political rotation and the structure of the executive.

The renewed proposal has, however, attracted criticism from former National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council and 2019 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Ameh.

According to Bush Radio Academy, Ameh acknowledged the argument that re-election politics can distract elected officials from governance, but warned that removing the possibility of a second election could create another accountability problem.

Ameh argued that elections provide voters with an opportunity to assess the performance of an incumbent and determine whether such a government deserves another mandate. He therefore expressed concern that a six-year tenure without a re-election process could weaken an important mechanism through which citizens hold political leaders accountable.

He warned that giving elected officials six years in office without an effective electoral check could create greater opportunities for corruption and abuse of public resources.

Ameh consequently called for stronger electoral institutions and a more transparent electoral process, arguing that Nigerians should be able to freely choose their leaders and have confidence that their votes will influence political outcomes.

Rather than completely abolishing the possibility of a second term, Ameh suggested retaining the existing four-year tenure while introducing an additional accountability mechanism, such as a referendum, to determine whether an incumbent should be eligible to seek another term.

He also linked the debate to the longstanding issue of rotational presidency. Ameh argued that rotating political power among Nigeria’s geopolitical zones could promote a greater sense of inclusion, although he stressed that rotation alone would not guarantee effective governance.

For him, the quality of leadership, transparency, accountability and the credibility of elections remain central to any constitutional reform.

The debate therefore presents two contrasting arguments. Bamidele’s proposal is based on the view that a single six-year tenure could reduce the distractions associated with re-election campaigns and allow elected officials to focus more fully on governance. Ameh, however, maintains that removing the prospect of re-election without establishing equally effective accountability measures could weaken voters’ ability to assess and sanction elected leaders.

Any move to change the tenure of the President and governors would require constitutional amendment and must go through the prescribed legislative process before it could become law.