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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
A group of 35 members of the House of Representatives are seeking alterations to the 1999 Constitution to pave way for the rotation of the presidency among the six geo-political zones of the country.
The lawmakers, led by the member representing Ideato South/Ideato North Federal Constituency of Imo State, Ikenga Ugochinyere, also want an amendment to the Constitution to provide for “a single tenure of six years for the president and governors of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Speaking on behalf of the group in Abuja, on Monday, Ugochinyere, said: “The reduction in government spending and wastage, efficiency in governance, and national stability by providing a single term of six years for the president and governors will go a long way in cost-cutting measures,” he said.
Giving more insight on bill’s content, the co-sponsor, Ugochinyere said that the sole intent of the bill is to enact legislation that will make provisions for single term of six years,the rotation of political power amongst the geo-political zones for presidency, and senatorial zones for the governorship in the general elections, as well as conducting all elections in one day to save cost and ensure higher voters turn out and election credibility.
He lamented that Nigeria is among several countries in Africa confronted by threats of political instability and social conflicts, hence the situation led to political actors in the country to canvass for the adoption of rotational and single tenure presidency as a potent political arrangement that can guarantee stability.
Ugochinyere called for support for the bill, saying that Nigeria should emulate Mexico as they practice a presidential system of government like Nigeria, but with a single-term presidency of six years.Â
“The first of the bills is a constitutional alteration bill to provide for the rotation of executive powers (Presidency) among the six geo-political zones to ensure equal representation. For the lawmakers, this will ensure equal representation, national stability, and inclusion of all regions in the country. The bill will also help reduce government spending and wastage on elections and achieve efficiency in governance since elected leaders will not be derailed or distracted by re-election agendas.Â
“A very important aspect of this bill is that it will also ensure that the Constitution recognises the division of Nigeria into six geo-political zones, and for the position of the presidency, the rotation of power between the North and the South shall be clearly done amongst the six geo-political zones to ensure that no zone is left out in six successions,” hw said.
According to Ugochinyere, another critical bill by the group of lawmakers is the bill to amend the relevant sections of the Electoral Act to ensure that all elections (Presidential, Governorship, National Assembly, state Houses of Assembly, and Local Governments) are held on the same day.
“Elections remain the only democratic means of bringing back sanity in part to see the reforms achieved,” he added.