“Why I proposed single six-year tenure, rotational presidency” – Atiku Abubakar

• Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar proposes a single six-year tenure and rotational presidency in Nigeria to promote democracy.

• Atiku has urged the National Assembly to initiate constitutional amendments to support these changes according to reports.

• The letter, dated August 30, 2024, was addressed to Senator Barau Jibrin, Deputy President of the Senate and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Constitution Review.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has articulated that his initiative for a singular six-year term and a rotational presidency in Nigeria is designed to enhance democratic governance.

Reports indicate that Atiku has called upon the National Assembly, through a letter, to initiate constitutional amendments that would facilitate these proposed changes.

The correspondence, directed to Senator Barau Jibrin, who serves as the Deputy President of the Senate and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Constitution Review, was dated August 30, 2024.

In elaborating on the rationale behind his proposal, Paul Ibe, the Special Adviser to Atiku on Media, stated that the former Vice President’s suggestions aim to “promote the advancement of constitutional democracy in Nigeria, “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 emphasized that such changes would mitigate the likelihood of political parties violating constitutional provisions and electoral regulations.

“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.