The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Adewole Adebayo, has dismissed ongoing discussions around a proposed single six-year tenure for presidents and governors, arguing that the idea does not address Nigeria’s core governance challenges.
Adebayo made his position known during an interview on Arise News on Wednesday, while reacting to a planned bill reportedly being considered by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele to introduce a single-term tenure for elected executives.
Proponents of the proposal believe a one-term structure would enable leaders to concentrate on governance without the pressure of re-election campaigns.
However, Adebayo maintained that the debate is misplaced, insisting that electoral integrity is far more important than constitutional changes to tenure duration.
He described the proposal as a “distraction,” stressing that Nigeria’s real challenge lies in building a functional democratic system rather than adjusting time limits for office holders.
According to him, the priority should be creating a political environment where elections genuinely reflect the will of the people.
Adebayo said Nigeria needs a system where voters determine outcomes freely, political parties promote credible candidates and institutions such as the Independent National Electoral Commission operate transparently without suspicion.
He argued that efforts should be focused on eliminating electoral malpractice, stating that rigging remains the biggest threat to Nigeria’s democracy.
The SDP flagbearer maintained that the current four-year tenure, renewable once, is sufficient if elections are conducted fairly and credibly.
He added that governance quality, rather than tenure length, should be the main measure of political leadership.
Adebayo also urged political actors to shift attention toward issue-based campaigns driven by ideas and policy alternatives rather than personal attacks or political distractions.
He further called on electoral authorities to strictly adhere to the law in managing internal party disputes and candidate-related matters, noting that such issues are part of the political process.