Senior lawyers Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) and Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN) have expressed divergent views on the proposal for a single term of 6 years for the President, Vice President, governors and their deputies.
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The proposal is part of the constitution alteration bills currently being considered by the Senate. While Ozekhome backs the single tenure plan, Adegboruwa warns it could breed authoritarianism.
According to media reports, Chief Ozekhome endorsed the proposed non-renewable single 6-year term as sufficient for elected officials to implement their mandates. He said it would reduce cost, bitter politics and litigations arising from re-election contests.
However, Adegboruwa countered that 6 years is inadequate for a governor or President to fully deliver on campaign promises to citizens. He argued a single term could tempt “self-succession” maneuvers like tenure elongation.
The senior advocate said the current 2-term tenure system of 4 years each should be maintained so voters can assess incumbents at the end of the first term and decide whether to renew their mandate or not.
Adegboruwa warned that a single tenure of 6 years may promote authoritarianism and lack of accountability if the elected official cannot be sanctioned at the polls for underperformance.
The discretion to punish non-performing governors and presidents through voting them out after 4 years should remain with the electorate according to him.
The Senate is currently seeking constituent views on the proposed alterations to presidential and gubernatorial term limits as part of its ongoing constitution review exercise.
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