Democracy News

Nigerian President Proposes One Term Limits
August 1, 2011
By: Carlos Aramayo | Printer Friendly

On July 26, BBC News reported that Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan proposed legislation that would limit the head of state to one term in office, but with a longer timeframe. Jonathan, who pledged that he would not benefit from such a law, said that he would be sending the proposed constitutional amendment to the National Assembly. According to the article, the Jonathan's advisers have long talked of such a proposal, arguing a single term for a longer period better suits Africa's most populous nation. During the presidential election earlier this year in April, rioting killed some 800 people. The current laws allow a president to serve two four-year terms.

Under the new bill, governors of the country's 36 states would also be limited to serving for a  single term. "The tenure of members of the National and State Assemblies will also be a little more than four years, although lawmakers will still be eligible for re-election as their constituencies may determine," Jonathan announced in a statement. Jonathan said that he "was concerned about the acrimony which the issue of re-election every four years generates.” He also added, “The nation is still smarting from the unrest, the desperation for power and the overheating of the polity that has attended each general election."

Rioting broke out when it emerged that Jonathan, a southern Christian, defeated Muhammadu Buhari, a Muslim candidate from the mostly Islamic north of the country. According to the BBC Newsthousands of people forced from their homes while Muslim opposition supporters staged riots. Churches were razed and Muslims were then targeted in revenge attacks.

For previous news on Nigeria, please see:
Nigerian Elections Yield Improvements, But Descend Into Violence

Sources:
BBC News – Nigeria's Goodluck Jonathan proposes one-term limits

BBC News – Nigeria election violence 'left more than 500 dead'