Senator Kenneth Eze, chairman of the Senate Committee on Information and National Orientation, has sparked discussions by advocating for a nationwide debate on replacing Nigeria’s existing two-term, four-year presidential cycle with a single, uninterrupted 16-year tenure.

 

Speaking on Monday at his Ohigbo-Amagu country home in Ezza South LGA, Senator Eze argued that frequent elections undermine effective governance and stall national development.

 

“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 explained.

 

The senator suggested that a single, extended tenure would liberate leaders from electoral pressures, enabling them to focus on long-term reforms in key sectors such as power, infrastructure, agriculture, and fiscal policy. He highlighted that initiatives like irrigation schemes, mechanized farming, and energy reforms require sustained commitment to deliver meaningful results.

 

Eze emphasized that the proposal should be understood as part of an ongoing conversation on governance, not as a challenge to democratic principles. He called for a transparent and participatory national dialogue on constitutional reform, urging citizens—including journalists, teachers, civil servants, and parents—to champion civic responsibility and uphold national values.

 

According to Senator Eze, policy reforms alone are insufficient for transformation; a holistic approach involving active citizen engagement is crucial to achieving sustained national progress.