The Nigerian House of Representatives has declined the second reading of a controversial bill proposing a single six-year term for the office of the president and governors.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere alongside 33 co-sponsors, was debated and ultimately rejected during Thursday’s plenary session.
In addition to advocating for a single six-year term, the bill proposed holding all elections on the same day and included other reform measures aimed at streamlining Nigeria’s electoral process. However, the proposed legislation failed to gain the necessary support among lawmakers.
It was titled, “A Bill for an Act to Alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) to create a single term of six years for the office of President and State Governors, recognize the division of Nigeria into the six Geopolitical zones, provide for the rotation of the office of President, State Governor and chairman of a Local Government Council among the Inherent regions and zones, and provide that all elections be held on a single day and for Related Matters (HB. 1511)”.
The Bill was introduced for second reading by the lead sponsor, Rep. Ugochinyere and seconded.
However, when the bill was put into voice vote by the Speaker, Abbas Tajuddeen, there was a loud ‘Nay’ from the members.
The Speaker therefore announced that, the ‘Nays’ had it which means that, the bill was rejected and failed to scale through second reading.
