Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
As discussions around the proposal for a single six-year term for Presidents and Governors dominated the just-concluded zonal review of the 1999 Constitution, former Director-General of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Chief Chuku Wachuku, has cautioned that such a measure alone would not solve Nigeria’s challenges.
Wachuku, a development economist and former senatorial candidate, said that unless key institutions like the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the judiciary, and other democratic structures are thoroughly reformed, a single-term presidency would only amount to a cosmetic change.
Speaking with our correspondent, Wachuku argued that adopting a non-renewable six-year term could even worsen governance, as it may encourage underperformance by political officeholders who would no longer be accountable to voters.
“It’s all related to bad governance,” he said.
“If someone is doing well in office, the option of a second term gives the people the opportunity to ask that person to continue. The Constitution already provides a mechanism for evaluating performance at the end of each term.”
Wachuku stressed that the problem lies more with the electoral system and the electorate than with the constitutional provisions themselves.
“Whether it’s desirable or not, we should place the blame where it belongs. It is the voters who should say, ‘This President or Governor has done well or has not done well.’ If not, the electorate should vote them out.
“It’s not the fault of the Constitution. The Constitution allows us to say yes or no to any candidate. The danger is that if someone knows they only have one term and won’t return to campaign for votes, they could commit atrocities without fear of accountability.”
He also criticized the widespread manipulation of the electoral process, blaming INEC and some members of the judiciary for enabling unpopular candidates to remain in power.
“The problem is not the Constitution or the leaders; it’s the electorate, who are often hoodwinked or induced into electing unfit individuals,” he said.
Wachuku called on the media to shift its focus from term-limit debates to scrutinizing institutions responsible for upholding democratic integrity.
“Media houses should be directing their energy toward holding INEC and the security forces accountable—the instruments that allow non-performing and unpopular candidates to get re-elected. The media should stop wasting time debating term limits and instead focus on dismantling the machinery that facilitates electoral fraud.”
He accused officials in INEC and the judiciary of being compromised and advocated for a comprehensive overhaul of both institutions.
“We need to reform the judiciary and INEC. Many of those working there are so compromised they need to be removed. The public also needs to be educated on how to defend their votes.”
He concluded by emphasizing the importance of institutional reforms: “If the people vote ‘no,’ how will that ‘no’ be reflected by INEC, secured by security agencies, and upheld by the judiciary? These are the real issues we must confront.”
