The House of Representatives on Thursday rejected a bill that sought to amend the 1999 Constitution, proposing a single six-year tenure for the President, state governors, and area council chairmen.
The bill, introduced by Ikenga Ugochinyere, the representative for Ideato North/Ideato South Federal Constituency in Imo State, along with 33 co-sponsors, also aimed to establish rotational leadership.
It proposed that the presidency rotate between the North and South regions, and that governorship positions rotate among the three senatorial districts within each state.
The proposed amendments sought changes to Sections 76, 116, 132, and 136 of the Constitution. According to the bill’s general principles, the amendments were designed to promote inclusive governance and reduce the financial burden of periodic elections.
“The bill seeks to amend Section 132 of the Principal Act to rotate the office of the President between the North and South regions every six years,” the bill’s explanatory notes stated.
Key provisions of the bill included aligning elections for the President, governors, National Assembly, and State Houses of Assembly to be held on the same date.
The bill also proposed changes to the succession process in case the elected President dies or is unable to assume office, with the First Vice President assuming the presidency and appointing a new Vice President with the approval of the National Assembly.
However, the bill was rejected when it was put to a voice vote by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, who presided over the plenary session. Following the rejection, lawmakers raised concerns over the potential impact of such changes on Nigeria’s political landscape.
