ABUJA, Nigeria – In a bold move that could reshape Nigeria’s political landscape, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has proposed sweeping constitutional amendments to the National Assembly. The proposals, outlined in a memorandum to the Senate Committee on Constitutional Review, include a shift to a six-year single term for Presidents and state governors, and a rotational presidency between the North and South.
Atiku, who was the presidential candidate for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general elections, has rekindled a debate that echoes former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s advocacy for a single six-year term during his tenure.
“The office of the President shall rotate among the six geopolitical zones of the federation on a single term of six years, flowing between the North and South on the single term of six years respectively,” Atiku stated in his proposal.
The former Vice President urged the National Assembly to “amend Section 135(2) to read: ‘Subject to the provisions of subsection (1), the President shall vacate his office at the expiration of a period of six years.'”
In addition to term limits and rotational presidency, Atiku’s proposals touch on several other key areas:
- Educational Qualifications: Atiku suggests raising the minimum educational requirement for political aspirants from a Senior Secondary School Certificate to an Ordinary National Diploma. He proposed an amendment to Section 65(2)(a) to read: “He has been educated up to at least Ordinary National Diploma in any recognised academic institution.”
- Candidate Selection: The proposals advocate for giving political parties more power in the candidate selection process. Atiku proposed an “amendment to Section 65(2)(b) to read: ‘He is a member of a political party whose name is in the register to be made available by his political party to the Independent National Electoral Commission 30 days before the conduct of the political party’s primary and he is sponsored by that party.'”
- Voter Rights: Atiku proposed the “substitution of an aspirant” in Section 285(14)(a) with “a voter,” potentially expanding individual voters’ rights in the electoral process.
- Educational Certificates: He recommended the insertion of a paragraph in Section 65(2)(a)(i) to address the issue of candidates’ educational qualifications and certificates.
These proposals, if adopted, would represent a significant overhaul of Nigeria’s political system. However, constitutional amendments in Nigeria require approval from both houses of the National Assembly and a majority of state legislatures, suggesting a potentially long and complex path to implementation.
