Senator Bamidele is seeking support for six-year terms for president and governor

Senate leader Opeyemi Bamidele has announced plans to champion a major constitutional amendment that would replace Nigeria’s current two-term executive system with six-year terms for the president and state governors.

According to the senior lawmaker, the proposed reforms aim to reduce political distractions associated with re-election campaigns and allow elected leaders to dedicate more time to governance and policy delivery.

Speaking to journalists at his office on Tuesday, Bamidele revealed that the bill is one of the major legislative initiatives he wants to achieve in the next Senate after the 2027 general elections.

Based on the provisions in the 1999 Constitution, the president and governor can serve a maximum of two terms, four years each. However, Bamidele argues that these structures often encourage officials to campaign long before they complete their first mandate.

Explaining the reasoning behind the proposal, he said:

“One of the first bills that I look forward to passing, by the grace of God, when we return for the 11th Senate, God willing, is a bill that would simply allow anyone who wants to be president of this country, or governor of any part of this country, to only serve one term of six years.”

He asserted that a single term would free elected officials from the pressure of obtaining another mandate and encourage them to fully concentrate on their responsibilities from the start.

“So you don’t even have to worry about wasting almost a year and a half of your first term thinking and fighting and waiting to see how you’re going to get re-elected.

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“If you know you’re there for six years, only one term, you put in your best effort from day one. You know this is the only chance you have,” Bamidele said.

The Senate leader acknowledged that the proposal would likely not receive universal support, but stressed that lawmakers have a responsibility to initiate reforms that they believe can strengthen governance and democratic institutions.

“That’s my opinion. That doesn’t mean everyone will agree with me. But that doesn’t mean I’m prohibited from doing that because it’s not regulated by law,” he said.

Bamidele further emphasized that the legal framework must evolve in response to emerging realities and national needs.

“The essence of law, the essence of parliament, law is like humans, it grows,” he added.

His proposal is expected to reopen a long-standing national conversation about executive tenure and constitutional restructuring. Proponents of the one-term system have consistently argued that it would reduce political maneuvering, lower election-related tensions, and give leaders greater freedom to pursue long-term development programs without the burden of campaigning for a second term.

This idea has emerged repeatedly since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999. Recently, Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, proposed equal six-year terms for presidents and governors, in addition to a constitutional arrangement to rotate the presidency among Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

Proponents believe such a system could promote policy stability and continuity. However, opponents argue that the current two-term arrangement gives the public the opportunity to reward a successful leader with a second mandate or remove an underperforming government through the ballot box.

If the proposal is ultimately approved by the National Assembly, it would require substantial amendments to the Constitution and also require the support of at least two-thirds of Nigeria’s state Houses of Assembly before becoming law.