Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, on Wednesday, called for a significant overhaul of Nigeria’s presidential tenure system, proposing a single six-year term for the president and rotational presidency among the six geopolitical zones.
This suggestion, made in a memorandum to the Senate Ad Hoc Committee on Constitution Review, aims to address the “pitfalls” in the country’s electoral laws.
Abubakar, who ran for president under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2023, believes this change will bring much-needed discipline to Nigeria’s democracy. “Such indiscipline by political parties and infidelity to the electoral parameters yield chaos in the system,” he said.
Proposed Constitutional Amendments:
– Section 130(1): The office of the president shall rotate among the six geopolitical zones on a single term of six years, alternating between North and South.
– Section 135(2): The president shall vacate office after six years, commencing from the date of election.
– Section 137(1)(b): A president shall not be eligible for re-election if they have already held the office.
Abubakar’s proposal seeks to prevent political parties from exploiting loopholes in election laws, promoting stability and fairness in the electoral process. By introducing a rotational presidency, he hopes to ensure that power is distributed evenly across Nigeria’s diverse regions.
While Abubakar’s proposal has sparked interest, its implementation would require significant constitutional changes. The national assembly must carefully consider the implications of such reforms to ensure they align with Nigeria’s democratic values and promote national unity.
