A group of over 30 lawmakers in the House of Representatives, under the aegis of the Reform Minded Legislators, are seeking constitutional changes to rotate executive powers among Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. They also propose a single six-year term for the President and Governors to improve governance efficiency and national stability.

Addressing journalists in Abuja, Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, a co-sponsor of the reform bills and representative of Ideato North/South Federal Constituency, stated that the electoral reform bills have passed their first reading and are set for a second reading in the House. He emphasized that these changes would reduce government spending, unite the country, ensure smooth transitions, and promote justice and equity.

Ugochinyere explained, “We are a group of reform-minded lawmakers dedicated to using legislation to reform Nigeria and our political process. Constitutional and electoral reform has been a critical issue in Nigeria since independence in 1960.” He added that the current political system has significant flaws that necessitate urgent reform.

The reform bills, numbering 50, have already gone through the first reading. Six of these bills were publicly unveiled, with more to follow. They address various sectors, including governance, economy, security, justice, and social cohesion.

The lawmakers cited previous reform proposals such as the Justice Uwais electoral reforms, the Senator Ken Nnamani electoral reform committee, and the Udoji civil service reform reports as foundational to their current initiatives.

Key proposals include:

• Rotating executive powers among the six geopolitical zones to ensure equal representation and reduce agitation for state creation.
• Amending the constitution to recognize the division of Nigeria into six geopolitical zones.
• Implementing a single six-year term for the President and Governors to enhance efficiency and reduce waste.

Additionally, the lawmakers propose creating two vice presidential offices, one from the northern and one from the southern parts of Nigeria. The first vice president would be a succession vice president, and the second would manage the economy.

On local governance, the lawmakers advocate for financial autonomy and accountability of Local Government Councils, with independent local council accounts and strict penalties for misuse of funds.

Regarding electoral reforms, they propose holding all elections—presidential, governorship, National Assembly, state assemblies, and local governments—on the same day. They also seek to ensure election results are verified with accredited voter lists and B-VAS machines, impose penalties for false result declarations, and mandate that election-related litigations be resolved before officials are sworn in.