By Ayo Kehinde
The Nigerian House of Representatives on Tuesday rejected the bill seeking to provide a single term of six years for the president and governors in the country.
A Plenary of the lower chamber of the National Assembly rejected the bill, sponsored by Hon John Dyegh from Benue State, which also provides for limitless number of years for Senators and Reps and their counterparts in the states
Idris Wase, deputy speaker, who presided over the session, had put the bill for vote after members debated its financial and political implications for the polity.
During the debate on the bill, most lawmakers kicked against it, arguing that there was nothing wrong with the system Nigeria currently operates.
Speaking for the bill, Sergius Ogun from Edo State argued that “This bill intends to also save money being spent on elections for second term. It will save this country and our democracy.”
But his Akwa Ibom counterpart, Henry Archibong was unimpressed and countered that focus should be on improving Nigeria’s electoral process and not on the number of years an elected officer stays in office.
“How can we make electoral processes and elections credible and less expensive?. This is the issue we ought to address and not the number of terms,” he submitted, while
Haruna Bello from Kano State, more frontally, stated that passage of the bill would fuel speculation of tenure extension for President Muhammadu Buhari.
“There is a speculation for tenure extension for the President. Bringing this motion now will make our adversaries think this is an attempt to achieve that.
“By the time you allow room for six years, you will shut down the door for appraisal of someone’s term after four years. We should maintain our four years.”
The ayes carried the day and the Speaker brought down the gavel and the bill was thrown out.
