Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar proposed a series of amendments to the 1999 Constitution, including the rotation of presidential power among Nigeria's six geopolitical zones.
A statement from his media office on Wednesday said Atiku made the proposals in a memo dated August 30 to Senate Deputy President Barau Jibrin, who also chairs the Senate Constitution Review Committee.
The statement says that the memorandum also contains recommendations such as procedures for the educational qualification of candidates in elections and internal democracy in political parties.
The presidential candidate of the opposition People's Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 elections seeks the amendment of Section 130 (1) of the constitution to read ” “the office of the president will rotate among the six geopolitical zones of the Federation into one term of Six Years that flows between the North and the South in a single term of Six Years respectively.”
He also wants the amendment to Section 135 (2) of the document to read “subject to the provisions of sub-section (1), the President shall leave office on the expiration of a period of six years from the date.”
Similar proposals
Atiku's proposals come about four months after some members of the House of Representatives proposed a bill to introduce rotation of the presidency between the North and the South, as well as the creation of a second vice president.
The lawmakers, known as “The Reformers” led by Ikenga Ugochinyere (PDP, Imo), said the proposals, if adopted, will reduce the cost of governance, among other benefits.
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The 2014 National Conference also recommended a similar rotation of power. He also recommended that the governor's position rotate among the three senatorial districts in each of the 36 states.
The then administration of President Goodluck Jonathan did not implement the conference's recommendations before leaving office.
Atiku's quest for the presidency
It is unclear whether Atiku's proposal for a rotating presidency is intended to pave the way for him to occupy the country's top political office.
The search for the Adamawa-born politician, who was vice president of the country between 1999 and 2007, led him to show interest in the presidential seat as early as 1992.
That year, Atiku attempted to run for president on the platform of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP), but later dropped out for Moshood Abiola, the presumptive winner of the 1993 presidential election.
He ran for president in 2007 on the ticket of the defunct Action Congress, but lost to the late President Umaru Yar'Adua.
Upon rejoining the PDP, Atiku contested the party's presidential primaries in 2011, but lost to President Jonathan. He lost the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries in 2014 to President Muhammadu Buhari.
Atiku was the PDP candidate in the 2019 and 2023 presidential elections but lost to former President Buhari and President Bola Tinubu respectively.
Read the full statement from Atiku's media office:
PRESS RELEASE
Constitutional amendment: Atiku proposes bold recommendations for rotating presidency and strengthening electoral laws
In a bid to advance the course of constitutional democracy in Nigeria, former Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar has proposed amendments to the National Assembly in line with the ongoing effort to review the 1999 Constitution.
Atiku's proposals, addressed to the Vice President of the Senate and Chairman of the Senate Constitution Review Committee, Senator Barau Jibrin, and dated August 30, 2024, contain recommendations bordering on issues such as procedures for the educational qualification of candidates in elections, internal democracy in political parties and rotation of the presidential office among the six (6) geopolitical zones of the country.
According to the explanatory note that includes the former vice president's proposals, the amendments he seeks in the revision of the constitution point to the following:
1. These amendments seek to raise the level of educational qualifications of candidates for political office.
2. End the violent takeover of political parties and thus strengthen the internal structure of political parties.
3. Reduce the tendencies of political parties to violate the constitution, the electoral law, the rules and guidelines issued thereunder and the constitution of the political party.
“The implication of the above is that political parties are allowed a very wide margin to violate the perimeter of electoral laws.
“Such indiscipline on the part of political parties and infidelity to electoral parameters generate chaos in the system.
“The above amendments will enshrine the discipline needed in a democracy,” Atiku said.
The recommendation for a rotating presidency contained in the proposal reads as follows:
to. Add paragraph “A” to section 130(1) to read: “the office of the President shall rotate among the six geopolitical zones of the Federation in a single period of six years flowing between the North and the South in a single period of six years. respectively.
b. Amend Article 135(2) to read: “Subject to the provisions of subsection (1), the President shall leave office at the expiration of a period of six years from that date.
do. Amend Section 137(1)(b) to read: “has been previously elected to such office.”
As will be remembered, the former vice president was the standard bearer of the main opposition political party in the 2023 presidential elections.
Therefore, the recommendations he has submitted to the National Assembly for the country's electoral laws to be amended are areas where there are difficulties in the existing laws regulating elections in Nigeria.
NB: See attached documents.
Signed: Paul IbeMedia Advisor to Atiku AbubakarVice President of Nigeria (1999-2007) and presidential candidate of the People's Democratic Party (2023)AbujaOctober 2, 2024.