The presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has proposed a constitutional amendment that would allow a six-year single term for the Office of the President of Nigeria.
Atiku made the proposal during a World Press Conference held at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, where he detailed his position on the Supreme Court judgment, affirming the election of President Bola Tinubu.
READ MORE: Supreme Court Ruling: PDP Presidential Aspirant Holds World Press Conference (Full Text)
“In order to reduce the desperation of incumbents and distractions from governing and also to promote equity and national unity, we need to move to a single six-year term for president to be rotated among the six geo-political zones.
“This will prevent the ganging up of two or more geo-political zones to alternate the presidency among themselves to the exclusion of other zones,” Atiku proposed.
The PDP presidential aspirant said Nigeria could urgently make constitutional amendments that will prevent any court or tribunal from hiding behind technicalities and legal sophistry to undermine the will of the people.
“Our democracy must mean something; it must be substantive. Above all, it should be expressed through free, fair and transparent elections that respect the will of the people.
“We must make electronic voting and collation of results mandatory; this is the 21st century and countries less advanced than Nigeria are doing so already. Only bold initiatives transform societies,” said Atiku.
The former vice-president emphasized that the constitution should provide that all litigation arising from a disputed election must be concluded before the inauguration of a winner as was the case in 1979, noting that the current time frame between elections and inauguration of winners is inadequate to dispense with election litigations.
Atiku is also of the view that in order to ensure popular mandate and real representation, the constitution “must move to require a candidate for president to earn 50% +1 of the valid votes cast, failing which a run-off between the top two candidates will be held.
“Countries that elect their presidents use this Two-Round System (with slight variations) rather than our current First-Past-the-Post system.
“Examples include France, Finland, Austria, Bulgaria, Portugal, Poland, Turkey and Russia, Argentina, Brazil, Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone,” he noted.
Atiku pointed out that there are irregularities in Nigeria’s judicial system, which causes Nigerians to lose hope and confidence. He, however, said he would not be deterred, as his struggle in Nigeria’s politics continues.
“As for me and my party, this phase of our work is done. However, I am not going away. For as long as I breathe, I will continue to struggle with other Nigerians to deepen our democracy and rule of law and for the kind of political and economic restructuring the country needs to reach its true potential,” he added.
This is the first time Atiku Abubakar is making any public comment on the Supreme Court judgement. He used the opportunity to outline his future plans, which include staying put in the country.
The press conference had in attendance the party’s acting Chairman, Ambassador Iliya Umar Damagun, members of the National Working Committee of the party, former governors, and members of the National Assembly, among others, who pledged to give maximum support in ensuring that People’s Democratic Party regains its power.
