When the bill which was scheduled for second reading was put to vote, majority of the lawmakers voted against it. The bill also sought to make it possible for all elections in the country to be held on a single day
By Moses Okorie
Members of the House of Representatives have on Thursday voted against a bill sponsored by Honourable Ikenga Ugochinyere from Imo State, seeking to create a single term of six years for president and state governors.
The bill which failed to fly at the House also sought to recognize the division of Nigeria into the six geopolitical zones, provide for the rotation of the office of president, state governor and chairmen of a local government councils among the Inherent regions and zones.
When the bill which was scheduled for second reading was put to vote, majority of the lawmakers voted against it. The bill also sought to make it possible for all elections in the country to be held on a single day.
Recall that in 2019, a similar bill sponsored by Honourable John Dyegh from Benue State also failed to scale through the first reading.
Dyegh’s bill had also considered a six-year term for Members of the National Assembly and States Houses of Assembly.
He argued that the bill was necessary to for members of the National Assembly to gain more experience in six years instead of four.
According to him, reelection for the president and governors cost three times more than the first election and is characterised by violence. He believes a single term of five years will curb the irregularities associated with re-election.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar had also proposed a further amendment of the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act 2022 to accommodate a six-year single term for a President for each of the six geopolitical zone.