​16 Years for One President? Senator Eze Sparks Debate on Ending Nigeria’s 4-Year Election Cycle

​EBONYI, Nigeria – In a move that has sent ripples through the nation’s political landscape, Senator Kenneth Eze (APC-Ebonyi) has formally called for a radical restructuring of Nigeria’s executive timeline. The lawmaker is advocating for the replacement of the current two-term, four-year system with a single, uninterrupted 16-year tenure for presidents.

​Speaking Monday at his country home in Ohigbo-Amagu, Ezza South Local Government Area, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Information and National Orientation argued that Nigeria’s developmental progress is being “strangled” by the frequency of elections.

​The Cost of ‘Permanent Campaigning’

​Senator Eze’s proposal stems from a critique of what he describes as a “governance slowdown” that occurs every four years. According to the lawmaker, the current system forces leaders to prioritize political survival over long-term national planning.

​”Every four years, we return to campaign mode,” Eze told gathered stakeholders and constituents. “By the third year of any administration, governance effectively stalls as attention shifts entirely to re-election. This is the primary reason why vital projects are abandoned and transformative policies are never allowed to mature.”

​He argued that the “distraction” of seeking a second term creates a cycle of short-termism, where leaders avoid difficult but necessary reforms in favor of populist, quick-fix projects that serve electoral interests rather than national ones.

​Focus on ‘Matured’ Reforms

​Under a single 16-year window, Eze posits that a President would have the “political breathing room” to execute complex structural overhauls. He specifically cited sectors like power, infrastructure, and agriculture as areas that require decades—not years—of consistent policy application.

​”Initiatives like nationwide irrigation schemes, mechanized farming transitions, and deep energy sector reforms cannot yield meaningful results in a four-year window shadowed by an upcoming ballot,” Eze explained. “A single, extended tenure would free leaders from electoral pressures, allowing them to focus on a legacy of results rather than a legacy of winning.”

ADVERTISEMENT

​A Call for National Dialogue

​Anticipating a backlash in a country with a sensitive history regarding “tenure elongation,” Eze was quick to clarify that his proposal is not a “third-term” gambit or an attack on democratic principles. Instead, he framed it as a necessary evolution of the 1999 Constitution.

​He called for a transparent, participatory national dialogue, urging journalists, civil servants, teachers, and parents to engage in the conversation.

​”Policy changes alone cannot transform Nigeria,” Eze noted. “We need a shift in civic responsibility and national values. This proposal should be viewed as an invitation to discuss how we can make our democracy work for our development, rather than against it.”

​While the proposal is expected to face stiff opposition from those wary of long-term power consolidation, it adds a significant new dimension to the ongoing debate over constitutional reform in the 10th National Assembly.