Senator Kenneth Eze (APC–Ebonyi) has called for a nationwide debate on replacing Nigeria’s current two-term, four-year presidential system with a single 16-year tenure, arguing that frequent election cycles hinder policy continuity and national development.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Information and National Orientation made the call on Monday while addressing journalists at his country home in Ohigbo-Amagu, Ezza South.
Frequent Elections Undermine Governance
Eze said Nigeria’s four-year election cycle forces governments into near-constant campaign mode, slowing governance and disrupting long-term planning.
“Every four years, we return to campaign mode. By the third year, governance slows as attention shifts to re-election; that is why projects are abandoned and policies are not allowed to mature,” he said.
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While noting that the Constitution provides for a four-year presidential term renewable once, the lawmaker said he would rather support a single, extended tenure.
“Nigeria’s constitution provides for a four-year presidential term, renewable once, but if you ask me, I will advocate one tenure of 16 years. It sounds controversial, but it will allow policies to run their full course and stabilise the system,” he added.
Long-Term Reforms Need Continuity
According to Eze, critical sectors such as power, infrastructure, agriculture and fiscal reform require sustained commitment beyond short political cycles to deliver measurable results.
He said programmes, including irrigation schemes, mechanised farming initiatives and energy sector reforms often fail because successive administrations abandon or alter policies before they mature.
The senator argued that a single, longer tenure would reduce electoral pressure on leaders and allow them to focus on implementing long-term reforms.
Constitutional Process and Civic Responsibility
Eze stressed that his proposal should be viewed as a governance discussion rather than an attack on democracy, calling for a broad national dialogue on constitutional reform.
He acknowledged that any change to the presidential tenure would require approval by the National Assembly and ratification by state legislatures, adding that the process must be transparent and participatory.
Beyond tenure reform, the senator urged Nigerians to embrace civic responsibility and patriotism, calling on journalists, teachers, civil servants and parents to promote national values, and noting that policy changes alone cannot transform the country.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.
