Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said he proposed a single six-year tenure and the rotational presidency for Nigeria in a bid to advance democracy.
Naija News reported that Atiku, in his letter addressed to the National Assembly, appealed to the legislators to immediately commence constitutional alterations to accommodate a single six-year tenure and rotational presidency.
The former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate’s letter was addressed to the Deputy President of the Senate and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Constitution Review, Senator Barau Jibrin, and dated August 30, 2024.
Explaining the reason for his proposal, the Special Adviser to Atiku on Media, Paul Ibe, said the former Vice President’s recommendations were to “advance the course of constitutional democracy in Nigeria, especially as the National Assembly continues its ongoing effort to revise the 1999 Constitution.
“These amendments seek to raise the standard of the educational qualification of political office seekers. An end to violent takeover of political parties and thereby strengthening internal structure of political parties.”
Ibe added that it would reduce the tendencies of political parties to breach the constitution and electoral acts
“Reducing the tendencies of political parties to breach the constitution, electoral act, rules and guidelines made thereunder, and the constitution of the political party
“The implication of the above is that political parties are allowed a very wide latitude to breach the perimeter of laws on elections.
“Such indiscipline by political parties and infidelity to the electoral parameters yield chaos in the system.
“The above amendments will enthrone the discipline that is needed in a democracy,” Ibe said.