By Bilesanmi Abayomi
Nigeria’s Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has reiterated the principle that deputies succeeding their deceased principals are entitled to only one term in office. This assertion was made during the Senate’s screening exercise on Friday, where Senator Ibrahim Gaidam was among those screened.
Senator Gaidam, who had previously served as the governor of Yobe State for three consecutive terms spanning from January 2009 to May 2019, subsequently moved to the Senate to represent the Yobe East district. In his testimony before the Senate, Gaidam detailed his political journey, a narrative that drew admiration from his fellow senators.
Gaidam’s political journey began in 1995 when he was appointed as the Commissioner for Youths and Sports. Over the years, he assumed various roles within the political landscape, eventually becoming Deputy Governor of Yobe State in 2007. Following the unfortunate demise of Governor Mamman Ali in January 2009, Gaidam was sworn in as governor, a position he was reelected to in 2011 and 2015.
Senator President Godswill Akpabio weighed in on Gaidam’s unique trajectory, pointing out that at the time of his ascension, the constitution had not been amended to restrict deputy successors. As per Akpabio’s interpretation, deputy governors in such circumstances were entitled to a single term, allowing them to serve the remainder of their principal’s tenure plus an additional term, if applicable.
It is important to note that in 2018, President Muhammadu Buhari signed a bill into law that imposes a limitation on vice-presidents or deputy governors who complete their principal’s terms. The law restricts them to seeking reelection only once more, curbing their ability to serve for multiple additional terms.