Senate Leader says reform will curb re-election distractions and sharpen focus on governance

Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele has unveiled plans to sponsor a bill seeking a single six-year tenure for Nigeria’s president and state governors, a move aimed at overhauling the country’s current two-term system.

Bamidele said the proposal would be among the first pieces of legislation he intends to introduce when the 11th National Assembly is inaugurated after the 2027 general elections. According to him, the reform is designed to eliminate the distractions of re-election campaigns and enable leaders to concentrate fully on governance from the outset.

Speaking to journalists in his office on Tuesday, the lawmaker criticised the existing arrangement, arguing that it compels elected officials to devote a significant portion of their first term to political survival rather than service delivery.

He maintained that a single, non-renewable six-year term would encourage officeholders to maximise their time in office. With no second term to pursue, leaders would be driven to deliver results from day one, he said.

Bamidele acknowledged that the proposal may generate debate and resistance but insisted that lawmakers must champion ideas capable of strengthening governance.

He also stressed the need for continuous legislative evolution, noting that laws must adapt to changing political and social realities.

If adopted by the National Assembly, the proposal would require constitutional amendments before it can take effect.