According to Yunusa Tanko, the Chief Spokesperson for the Peter Obi/Datti Baba-Ahmed Presidential Campaign Council for 2023, electoral reform is more urgently needed to strengthen democracy than the suggested six-year single-tenure and rotating presidency.
In an interview on Tuesday, Mr. Tanko—who was also the previous National Chairman of the National Conscience Party—said as much.
According to Mr. Tanko, implementing electoral reforms will ensure the emergence of trustworthy leaders at all governmental levels.
In his view, 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 development of credible 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 be compatible with legitimate elections. We’ll discuss office tenure after we have that, Mr. Tanko stated.
He stated that in order to advance democracy, the National Assembly should concentrate on strengthening the election system rather than term limits.
“Let us clean up and clarify the electoral system so that we can hold credible elections,” he declared.
Additionally, Shettima Yerima, National President of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, expressed her support for the notion of a single six-year term for governors and a rotating presidency.
Nonetheless, he stated that the concept of rotating president might not align with democratic ideals.
Yerima, a rights activist as well, stated, “It’s good. Its spinning feature is the one thing that bothers me about it. It has to be permitted to be democratic. If someone has the number, they should take it, and if someone doesn’t, they should wait patiently for their turn. Though it’s good, this isn’t actually a problem for us. Any leader can use this phrase to reign and disappear.
A bill proposing a six-year term limit for state governors and the president was recently introduced by thirty-five members of the House of Representatives.
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.
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.
