Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has called for a constitutional amendment to establish a single five- or six-year term for elected public officials in Nigeria. He argued that the current two-term system often leads to distractions that impede effective governance.
Makinde made the remarks at his Ibadan residence while receiving a delegation of Muslim faithful, led by Deputy Governor Bayo Lawal, following Eid-el-Kabir prayers. The group included traditional and political leaders. Reflecting on his six years in office, Makinde noted that leaders typically spend only about five of the eight years focused on governance, as re-election campaigns and political uncertainties consume much of their time.
“I have spent six years already, and due to no fault of anybody, we lost the year 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Makinde said. “We lost almost one year campaigning all over the place for the second tenure. Now, people have started distracting us on what I want to do next and all of that.”
He emphasized that removing these political distractions through a single term would enable leaders to fully concentrate on delivering their mandates.
“That is why I feel if you remove all these distractions, a single tenure of five or six years is actually enough to focus and do the work that we are trying to do in eight years,” he added. “It has nothing to do with me. If they say I should end it, so be it.”
Makinde urged Nigerians to start a serious national conversation about amending the constitution based on practical experience and data.
“This is a constitutional issue. We should start looking at it. I know that it has been brought to the attention of the National Assembly, but, quite frankly, it is a model that should work for this country,” he said.
Currently, under Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution (as amended), presidents and governors can serve a maximum of two four-year terms.
Makinde’s proposal echoes similar calls made in October 2024 by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who suggested a single six-year presidential term combined with a rotational system among Nigeria’s six geo-political zones.
However, in November 2024, the House of Representatives rejected a bill proposing a single six-year term for the presidency.
