Obi-Datti: Rotational presidency is not yet a priority.
In order to strengthen democracy, Yunusa Tanko, the Chief Spokesperson for the Peter Obi/Datti Baba-Ahmed Presidential Campaign Council for 2023,
claims that electoral reform is far more urgently needed than the single-term rotating presidency that is being suggested.
This was stated by Tanko, a former National Chairman of the National Conscience Party (NCP), in a Tuesday interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Restructuring the election system, according to him, would ensure the appearance of respectable leaders at all governmental levels.
He says that one of the most important factors to take into account in the current process of amending the constitution should be strengthening democracy to ensure the emergence of trustworthy leaders.
“The Nigerian people will decide on them (a single six-year term and a rotating presidency) when the time comes.
These are not issues that ought to be at the forefront of conversations right now.
This is due to the fact that what is genuinely required right now is an electoral reform that would work in tandem with legitimate elections.
Tanko stated, “Once we have that, we will be talking about tenure of office.”
He stated that in order to advance democracy, the National Assembly should concentrate on strengthening the election system rather than term limits.
He declared, “Let’s clean up the electoral system and make it transparent so that we can hold credible elections.”
Alhaji Shettima Yerima, National President of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, also spoke with NAN and agreed that having a six-year term limit for governors and the president would be a good idea.
On the other hand, he stated that the rotating presidency might not align with democratic ideals.
Yerima, a rights activist as well, commented, saying, “It’s good, but I don’t like how it rotates. It has to be permitted to be democratic.
“whomever has the number should grab it, and whomever doesn’t have the number should wait patiently for his opportunity.
But while it’s good, this isn’t actually a concern for us. Any leader can use this phrase to reign and disappear.
Remember that 35 members of the House of Representatives recently introduced a bill that would have limited the terms of state governors and the president to six years each.
The measure also addresses the country’s six geopolitical zones and the rotation of the presidency among them.
Under the banner of Reformed-minded Legislators, the 35 lawmakers claimed that both plans would lower the expense of government.
Rep. Ikenga Ugochinyere, the group’s spokesman, continued by saying that the action will guarantee a smooth transfer of power, bring the nation together, and further its development.
