Atiku advocates six-year presidential term, constitutional amendments

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on the National Assembly to consider a constitutional amendment that would introduce a single six-year term for the President and state governors.

In his memorandum to the Senate Committee on Constitutional Review, Atiku also suggested the establishment of a rotational presidency between the Northern and Southern regions of Nigeria.

He proposed revising Section 135(2) of the constitution to read, “The President shall vacate his office at the expiration of a period of six years,” effectively replacing the current two-term limit.

Atiku’s recommendations extended beyond the presidential term limits. He also advocated for changes in Section 285(14)(a), recommending that the term “substitution of an aspirant” be replaced with “a voter,” thereby expanding the scope of political rights.

In a bid to raise educational standards for electoral candidates, Atiku suggested that the minimum qualification for anyone seeking elective office should be an Ordinary National Diploma (OND), as opposed to the current requirement of a Senior Secondary School Certificate. He called for Section 65(2)(a) to be amended to reflect this new requirement.

Furthermore, Atiku recommended that all educational certificates of candidates be submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and in cases where certificates are lost, an affidavit should be provided as proof.

Atiku also emphasized the need for political parties to play a more significant role in the selection of candidates. He suggested an amendment to Section 65(2)(b) that would give parties more authority by mandating that they submit candidate lists to INEC 30 days before the conduct of primaries.

These recommendations highlight Atiku’s vision for Nigeria’s political system, focusing on reforms that he believes will strengthen democracy and ensure a more balanced representation across the country.