The media team of Kenneth Emeka Eze, Senator representing Ebonyi Central Senatorial District, has dismissed as false and misleading reports alleging that he proposed a single 16-year tenure for elected political officeholders in Nigeria.
In a statement issued on Monday by his Senior Legislative Aide, Hon. Kizito Nwankwo, the lawmaker described the trending publication as a gross misrepresentation of remarks he made during a broader intellectual discourse on governance stability and policy continuity.
“At no time did Senator Eze sponsor, submit, or formally propose a constitutional amendment seeking to introduce a 16-year single tenure for the office of President or any other elected political officeholder,” the statement read.
According to the media team, the comments attributed to the senator were made in the context of comparative governance models across jurisdictions, where scholars and policymakers occasionally examine alternative constitutional frameworks aimed at strengthening institutional efficiency and reducing the distractions associated with prolonged election cycles.
The statement stressed that the discussion was exploratory and academic in nature, not a legislative motion, not a bill before the Senate, and not an advocacy for tenure elongation.
It further emphasized that Nigeria operates under the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which clearly stipulates a four-year tenure for elected executive and legislative officeholders, renewable once in the case of executive positions.
“Senator Eze remains a firm believer in constitutional democracy, the rule of law, separation of powers, and periodic electoral accountability as foundational pillars of our Republic,” the statement added.
The media team described as unfair the extraction of isolated remarks from a broader policy conversation and their presentation as a concrete legislative agenda.
It noted that public policy discussions often involve examining parliamentary systems, single-term presidencies, and hybrid democratic arrangements without implying immediate constitutional action.
Reaffirming his commitment to democratic governance, Senator Eze stated that his legislative focus remains on institutional strengthening, good governance, and reforms that directly improve the welfare of Nigerians.
The statement called on the media practitioners and commentators to uphold responsible journalism by presenting public statements within their proper context and avoiding distortions capable of generating unnecessary controversy.
