Legal Concerns Arise Over One-Term Presidency Proposal

The proposal by Nigeria's opposition to establish a one-term, four-year presidency for the 2027 election has sparked significant criticism from legal experts, civil society groups, and political scientists. They argue that the idea lacks a constitutional foundation.

This plan originated from a summit in Abuja under the G-100 banner, where opposition parties and stakeholders aimed to create a Government of National Competence anchored on a four-year National Reset Programme. Five working groups were formed to develop a Single-Term Transition Charter and a framework for a common presidential candidate.

Historically, since Nigeria's return to democracy in 1999, no elected president has voluntarily left after one term. Legal experts like Akin Oshuntokun and Wumi Bewaji have raised concerns about constitutional and electoral obstacles, while Moruff Balogun noted that a constitutional amendment could make the proposal viable.

Civil society leaders, including Samson Itodo and Auwal Rafsanjani, emphasized the need for transparency and trust in political commitments.