Rep vows to continue advocacy for bill seeking six-year single term for president, governors

A member of the House of Representatives, Ikeagwuonu Ugochinyere, has said the push for a six-year single term for President and Governors will continue despite the bill’s rejection.

The bill, which was slated for a second reading during plenary session on Thursday, was rejected by lawmakers in the green chamber.

Sponsored by Ikeagwuonu from Imo state and 33 other lawmakers, the bill had also sought to amend section 3 of the constitution to provide for the recognition of the division of Nigeria into six geopolitical zones.

Briefing journalists on Thursday evening, the lawmaker described the rejection of the bill as a “temporary setback”.

“The struggle to reform our constitutional democracy to be all-inclusive and provide an avenue for justice, equity and fairness has not been lost,” he said.

The lawmaker said voting against the bill by the parliament “does not put an end to agitation and hope that we will realise this objective”.

“This is a temporary setback which does not affect the campaign for an inclusive democratic process,” he said.

The Imo lawmaker said the sponsors of the bill will review the decision of the house and “find possible ways of reintroducing it after following due legislative procedures”.

“All I can tell Nigerians is that we will continue the advocacy and convince our colleagues to see reason with us. If elections are held in one day, it will reduce cost and rigging,” he said.

“If power rotates, it will help deescalate political tensions and six-year single term will go a long way in helping elective leaders focus on delivering their democratic mandate.

“All hope is not lost, we will continue the advocacy and we hope that when reintroduced our colleagues will support it.”