The proposal for a six-year mandate triggers negative reactions, analysts and citizens call it a “distraction”

Senate leader Opeyemi Bamidele’s proposal to introduce a single six-year term for Nigeria’s president and state governors has drawn sharp criticism from public affairs analysts and citizens, who have described the move as a misplaced priority amid pressing national challenges..

Bamidele on Monday unveiled plans to sponsor a constitutional amendment bill that seeks to replace the current two-term, four-year tenure system with a single, non-renewable six-year term. He said the bill will be part of his legislative agenda when lawmakers reconvene after the 2027 general election.

According to him, the proposal aims to curb the distractions associated with re-election campaigns and allow elected officials to focus directly on governance.

“If you know you’re going to be there for six years, with just one term, give it your all from day one,” Bamidele said, arguing that the current structure forces leaders to spend a significant portion of their first term strategizing for a second term.

However, the proposal has triggered widespread debate, with many Nigerians expressing doubts about its relevance to the country’s governance challenges.

Speaking on Frontline, a public affairs program on Eagle 102.5 FM in Ogun State, a political analyst, Bayo Ayanga, said the idea is not new, recalling a similar proposal by former President, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

Ayanga noted that Jonathan had argued for a single five-year term around 2012 and 2013, citing political tension generated by second-term ambitions.

“The idea is not new. The former president had argued that the push for re-election often creates unnecessary political upheaval and distracts from governance,” Ayanga said.

Despite acknowledging the rationale behind the proposal, callers on the program overwhelmingly rejected it, insisting that Nigeria’s problems stem from poor leadership, weak accountability and ineffective policy implementation, not length of office.

A caller from Ago-Iwoye, AbdulWasiu, described the proposal as an “unnecessary distraction”, stressing that four years is enough for any serious leader to achieve significant results.

He cited former governors such as Olabisi Onabanjo, Lateef Jakande, Bola Ige and Ambrose Alli as examples of leaders who made a significant impact in a single term.

“For me it’s just to divert attention. Four years is enough for any committed leader to take action,” he said, urging lawmakers to focus on insecurity and governance deficits.

Another interlocutor, Prince Suleiman Hassan, also criticized the proposal, describing it as an attempt to shift public discourse away from issues that directly affect citizens’ well-being.

“It’s a distraction. Nigerians expect policies that will improve living conditions, not constitutional debates that don’t address their immediate needs,” he said.

Similarly, a caller identified as Oscar from Ijebu-Ode argued that the country’s democratic shortcomings are rooted in the disconnect between leaders and the governed.

According to him, many public policies fail because political office holders do not experience their impact firsthand, thus weakening accountability.

“Whether it is one mandate or multiple mandates, nothing will change unless leaders are held accountable,” he said.

The Senate leader also revealed that the proposed reform is part of a larger legislative package, including measures to force Revenue Mobilization Allocation and the Tax Commission to disclose the earnings of public officials.

While Bamidele acknowledged that the proposal reflects his personal belief and could cope

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