JUST IN: Six-Year Single Tenure Won’t Fix Nigeria’s Governance Crisis, Ubani Warns
OGB Joseph, Abuja
Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and policy analyst, Dr. M.O. Ubani, has cautioned against viewing the proposed six-year single tenure for Nigeria’s President and state governors as a cure-all for the country’s governance challenges, insisting that leadership quality and strong institutions remain the key determinants of democratic success.
Reacting to renewed calls for a constitutional amendment introducing a single six-year term for elected chief executives, Ubani acknowledged that the proposal has merit, particularly its potential to free leaders from the distractions of seeking re-election.
He noted that under the current constitutional arrangement, presidents and governors serve four-year terms with the option of one re-election, a system that often sees political campaigns begin long before the first tenure expires, thereby affecting governance and policy implementation.
According to him, while a single tenure could reduce political pressure and encourage long-term planning, it also raises concerns about democratic accountability.
“The prospect of re-election remains one of the strongest mechanisms through which citizens assess the performance of elected leaders. Removing that incentive could weaken democratic responsiveness and accountability,” he stated.
Ubani argued that international experience does not establish any direct relationship between the length of executive tenure and the quality of governance, pointing out that several countries with relatively short fixed terms have produced exceptional leaders, while others with extended tenures have experienced poor governance, institutional decline and democratic erosion.
He maintained that Nigeria’s governance challenges are rooted more in weak institutions and ineffective leadership than in the duration of executive tenure.
“The debate should not be reduced to six years versus eight years. Rather, the focus should be on which constitutional arrangement best promotes accountability, stability, effective governance and democratic development,” he said.
The legal practitioner acknowledged that introducing a six-year single tenure is constitutionally possible through the prescribed amendment process, but questioned whether such a reform would address the country’s deeper governance problems.
According to him, tenure reform may change political incentives, but it cannot replace competent leadership, institutional integrity, transparency, respect for the rule of law and active citizen participation.
Ubani stressed that history has shown that effective leaders can achieve remarkable results within a short tenure, while ineffective leaders may waste even longer periods in office.
He concluded that Nigeria’s real challenge is not merely determining how long elected officials should remain in office, but ensuring that those entrusted with leadership govern responsibly, deliver democratic dividends and uphold constitutional principles.
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