VPs Who Complete President’s Tenure Eligible For Single Term, Says New Law

President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday signed a constitutional amendment that stops a vice president who completes the term of a president from contesting for the office of the President more than once.The same is applicable to a deputy governor who completes the term of a state governor.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Ita Enang, disclosed this to State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Friday.The term of a President or a governor can be aborted by virtue of death, resignation or removal, thereby paving the way for the Vice President or deputy governor to take over.
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Enang explained that the effect of the new law, Act 16, is that having taken the oath of President or governor once, the affected person can only contest one more time and no more.
If the law had been in place, former President Goodluck Jonathan who completed the tenure of late President Umar Yar’Adua after his death would not have qualified to contest the 2015 presidential elections having contested and won in 2011.

Enang said the President also signed an amendment to the constitution that grants autonomy to state judiciary and state Houses of Assembly.