Ohigbo-Amagu, Ebonyi State – Senator Kenneth Eze (APC-Ebonyi) has called for a bold restructuring of Nigeria’s presidential term, advocating a single, uninterrupted 16-year tenure to replace the current two-term, four-year cycle. Speaking from his country home in Ohigbo-Amagu, Ezza South LGA, the senator argued that frequent elections undermine policy continuity, stall projects, and slow national development.
“Every four years, attention shifts from governance to campaigns. By the third year, policies stall, projects are abandoned, and the country loses momentum,” Senator Eze said. He added that a longer single tenure would allow presidents to implement long-term reforms without the distraction of re-election pressures.
Highlighting the need for sustained commitment in critical sectors, Senator Eze noted that power, infrastructure, agriculture, and fiscal reforms demand continuity to achieve meaningful results. He cited mechanised farming, irrigation programs, and energy sector reforms as examples that require years of consistent leadership. Defending recent economic policies, including the fuel subsidy removal, he emphasised that tough decisions are necessary to prevent fiscal collapse.
The senator clarified that the proposal is intended to enhance governance, not weaken democracy. He urged a national dialogue on constitutional reform, ensuring that any changes are transparent, participatory, and properly ratified by the National Assembly and state legislatures.
Beyond tenure reform, Senator Eze called on citizens to embrace civic responsibility, patriotism, and ethical leadership. He encouraged journalists, educators, civil servants, and parents to actively instil national values, stressing that policy reforms alone cannot transform the country without collective civic engagement.
Political analysts and civil society organisations have already begun weighing in on the proposal, signalling that Eze’s recommendation may ignite a nationwide debate on the future of Nigeria’s democracy and leadership structure.
