New Call Emerges for Single Six-Year Term for Political Office Holders
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has called for a major change in Nigeria’s political system by suggesting a single six-year term for the President and state governors instead of the current two terms of four years each.
He believes this would allow leaders to focus fully on governance without the distractions of re-election campaigns.
Speaking at his residence in Ibadan after Eid-el-Kabir prayers, Makinde said his experience in office made him realise that much of the eight-year period is lost to crises and political distractions.
He noted that in his own time, the COVID-19 pandemic took up a year, and campaigning for re-election took even more time away from governance.
According to him, leaders are left with only about five years of effective service.
That’s why he believes a single term of five or six years is enough for any government to deliver on its promises.
He acknowledged that the idea requires a constitutional amendment but insisted it’s worth considering for the good of the country.
Makinde said he is not pushing the proposal for his own benefit, but rather to spark national discussion on how to improve governance.
He stated that removing the distractions of re-election would give leaders the opportunity to concentrate solely on their responsibilities.
The governor made the remarks while addressing Muslim clerics, traditional leaders, and political figures who visited him after the Eid prayers.
Among the delegation were his deputy, Abdulraheem Lawal, the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, and other former deputy governors and political leaders.
Governor Makinde also used the opportunity to thank the Muslim community for their prayers and support over the years.
He encouraged them to continue supporting his administration, promising to remain committed to serving the people of Oyo State.
The idea of a single six-year term has been debated in Nigeria before.
In October 2024, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar proposed the same idea, calling for a rotational presidency between the North and South, with each zone holding office for one six-year term.
However, in November 2024, the House of Representatives rejected a bill proposing this change.
This wasn’t the first time such a bill failed. Similar attempts in 2019 also didn’t pass.
Despite the setbacks, other leaders like Anambra State Governor Charles Soludo have also supported the idea.
Soludo argued that a single term would allow leaders to focus more on development rather than election politics.
