1999 Nigerian Constitution: Reps Reject Six-year Single Tenure Amendment

The House of Representatives on Thursday rejected a bill seeking to amend the 1999 Nigerian Constitution to allow for a single tenure of six years for the President, state governors, and area council chairmen.

The bill sponsored by the member representing the Ideato North/Ideato South Federal Constituency, Imo State, Ikenga Ugochinyere, and 33 others, also sought amendment of section 132 of the constitution to allow the rotation of the Office of the President between the North and South regions, and the governorship among the three senatorial districts in each state of the federation every six years.

The proposed legislation seeks to alter Sections 76, 116, 132, and 136 in the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

The bill also seeks to add that all elections into the offices of the President, Governors, National Assembly, and State Houses of Assembly shall be conducted simultaneously by INEC on the same date.

The bill also adds that if a duly elected president dies before being sworn in, the Vice President elected with him shall be sworn in as President and he shall appoint a new First Vice President.